With the decision to establish the Port of Ploče Authority from 13.02.1997, the Government of the Republic of Croatia established a port area managed by the Port of Ploče Authority, which consists of the port basins of Ploče and Metković. The Metković Basin covers the area that stretches from the right bank of the Neretva River from the bridge to the Jerkovac lighthouse, where it reaches the edge of the group of railway station’s railway tracks perpendicular to the coast, continuing in parallel with it, in order to return the vertical to the existing road south of it near the railway station. It continues along the southern edge of the existing road to the Neretva bridge. The sea part is bordered by a perpendicular to the Lighthouse Jerkovac and goes in the middle of the Neretva River to the bridge and along the bridge to the coast. The area of the Metković harbour basin covers 27,676.00 m2  and consists of the following units: entrance and reception area, cement terminal, slag terminal, storage facilities, quay 3 with coastline and administrative facility. Unlike the port of Ploče, which is a port of national importance, the area of the port of Metković has been declared a port of county importance. The port area of the port of Ploče is by legal nature a maritime domain and the right of ownership or any other real right on any basis cannot be exercised on it. It is outside legal traffic, and the only way to dispose is through the concession institute. The Contract on the priority concession for the performance of port activities and the use of port substructure and superstructure facilities from August 13,2005 and the Contract for the extension of the priority concession (Built area – Existing port) of May 24,2010 between the Port of Ploče Authority and concessionaire Luka Ploče d.d., the entire described area of the Metković basin was given into  concession until August 13,2037, and the concessionaire has the right to perform port and other activities in the entire area.