“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it”
A captain at barely 29
At barely 29 years old, I became a captain on large oil tankers (VLCC – Very Large Crude Carrier) that were about 330 meters long. For comparison, the average football stadium is around 100 meters long, so imagine a ship whose length exceeds nearly 3.5 football stadiums!
Managing such a giant, along with the entire crew, at that age was no easy task – especially at the beginning. Most of the captains on these ships were much older and more experienced. I was often met with a sense of doubt when we docked in ports around the world.
I was the youngest captain in Croatia on such large tankers, and since there were only about 500 such ships worldwide, I was probably one of the youngest captains in the world, if not the youngest.
Goodbye oceans and ships, I'm returning to you, my island
After 15 years of sailing, during which I sailed across nearly all of the world’s oceans and experienced countless adventures, in 2016 I decided to say goodbye to a well-paid captain’s career and follow my dreams
I returned to where my heart had always called me – to my home island of Šipan – and started over.
Alongside the existing olive groves and vineyards that my family has nurtured for generations, I planted a new vineyard with the goal of expanding wine production and invested in a facility for processing ground carob.
Šipan Island is incredibly rich in carob trees, particularly a native variety of exceptional quality. I saw enormous potential in this valuable, beneficial, and somewhat forgotten plant.
Part of the investments was financed from EU funds, and part from own resources.
Green Captain
In the spring of 2024, we launched our new brand – Green Captain. The brand is inspired by my life journey and the beauty and richness of our coastline, especially the island of Šipan. The brand's icon, a fusion of a leaf and a hidden ship, symbolizes my transition from the maritime world to cultivating the treasures of the island.
I became the captain of my own fields, replacing the big blue with the fertile green.
Love and work
“Tradition is not an empty concept, it is love passed down through generations,” wrote Paul Valéry, and this perfectly reflects our mission.
Our love for the island and its heritage drives everything we do, creating products that tell not only our story but also the story of the island’s centuries-old tradition.
Our shop
In the summer of 2024, we opened our shop, “Green Captain”, in the heart of the village of Suđurađ on the island of Šipan, where visitors can see, taste, and purchase all our products: wine, olive oil, and ground carob.
A story that is just beginning
This is not just a story about our products, it is a story about our connection with heritage, people and nature.
Visit us and feel the passion and commitment that drives us.
