The City of Zadar asked for the change because of road works on Molat, the Agency approved it, and islanders found themselves without weekday sailings or the option to buy tickets. What is officially confirmed, what it means for guests with booked rooms, and why the slowest ship in the fleet is on the run.
Checked: 8 September 2026
On the morning of 8 September Jadrolinija announced a temporary timetable on ferry line 433 from Zadar (Gaženica) to Rivanj, Sestrunj, Zverinac, Molat and Ist, valid from 9 to 23 September 2026. The notice is short and points to the timetable page. The background came a day earlier from the Agency for Coastal Liner Traffic, answering islanders' complaints via the portal Morski.hr.
What is confirmed
- The change is temporary and runs from 9 to 23 September 2026; after that the line returns to its approved timetable.
- The reason is road rehabilitation on Molat: the City of Zadar asked for the adjustment so that construction machinery and transport vehicles can be shipped over.
- The line is worked by the ferry Mate Balota, the slowest in the fleet; the other contracted ship, Vladimir Nazor, is in the Viktor Lenac shipyard. The run to Molat takes three and a half hours instead of two hours and 45 minutes.
- Ticket sales: the Agency says that now the temporary timetable has been approved, tickets can be bought normally again.
What islanders reported
According to the complaints relayed by Morski.hr, ticket sales for the line had been blocked two weeks ahead, the weekday timetable had been dropped, foreign guests arriving by car could not reach rooms they had booked, and workers on the islands stood idle without deliveries of material. These are the islanders' accounts, not official data; the Agency answered only the questions about the temporary nature of the change and about the ship.
What to do if you are travelling
- Before you set off, open the line 433 timetable on jadrolinija.hr and check it again the day before you travel; the temporary timetable runs until 23 September.
- Allow three and a half hours to Molat and longer to Ist; the ship calls at every port on the way.
- If you have booked a room on Molat, Ist, Sestrunj, Zverinac or Rivanj, tell your host which sailing you are taking; hosts follow the changes better than any website.
- Without a car, consider Ugljan or Pašman instead: the Zadar to Preko ferry runs all day and is not affected by this change.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is the ferry to Molat and Ist running in September 2026?
- It does, but from 9 to 23 September 2026 on a temporary timetable. The ship is the Mate Balota and the run to Molat takes about three and a half hours. Check the timetable on jadrolinija.hr.
- Why has the line 433 timetable been changed?
- Because of road rehabilitation on the island of Molat. The City of Zadar requested the change to ship construction machinery over, and the Agency for Coastal Liner Traffic approved it for 9 to 23 September 2026.
- Can I buy a ticket in advance?
- According to the Agency, yes: once the temporary timetable was approved, the operator has to open ticket sales. If the system does not offer your date, call Jadrolinija's information line 072 30 33 37 (from Croatia).
Official sources
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