The topic and title of this paper is history of naval activities in Neretva region, that is, an overview of the navigational past of the lower Neretva valley, considered with all inclusive geographical and other elements. The first chapter deals with the geographical features of the lower course of the Neretva, which, as a link between the continental and Mediterranean worlds, determined the navigation potential of this area. The next few chapters deal with the navigational past of the people who lived along the Neretva, from the oldest prehistoric finds, all the way to the development and operation of the port of Ploče. In addition to the historical overview, these chapters also contain information about the vessels that created that past, and considerations about the hydrographic changes that affected that past. The last chapter, which was created on the basis of field research, deals with today's Neretva vessels: lađa, trupica and trupa.