The area of the Old Port is marked by two breakwaters: Porporela, extending deep into the sea in front of the Fortress of St. Jana and Kaše, running perpendicular to the port. Before the rise of the Kaše breakwater, the port was closed at night against foreign ships by a chain connecting the fortress of St. John and the Tower of St. Luke. Currently, private boats, cruise ships and regular ferry lines to the island of Lokrum are moored in the port.
During the Republic of Dubrovnik (1358-1809), the port was a place of intense trade. In the mid-16th century, the Dubrovnik fleet had nearly 200 large ships, worth a total of 700,000. ducats. In the 18th century, Dubrovnik had its sales representatives in 80 cities around the world, and its fleet numbered over 600 sailing units, of which one third sailed on international waters. The power of the naval military and economic of Dubrovnik was put to an end only by Napoleon's decisions, which deprived the city of its sovereignty.
The Republic of Dubrovnik had its own shipyard, famous for sailing ships with a simple, strong construction. They arose in the Arsenal building that has survived to this day. During the ship's construction, the dock was walled up with a brick wall to protect the secrets of local boatbuilders. The wall was dismantled only when the finished ship could go out to sea. Currently, the Arsenal houses an exclusive restaurant, whose interiors are stylized as former shipyard rooms.
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