In 1915, part of the Austro-Hungarian merchant fleet was stationed in Novigrad and the Novigrad Sea. They were passenger and cargo steamships belonging to Ungaro-Croata companies, Navigazione Libera Trieste, Levante, Atlantica, Tripcovic, Lloyd Austriaco, Oliveti, Martinolic and Napried. They were accompanied by a German cargo ship of the Rickmers company from Hamburg and the sailing ship Vila Velebita, otherwise a school ship of the nautical school in Bakro.