Barbarić began his professional naval career in 1996 with the shipping company Atlantska Plovidba in Dubrovnik. He later served as a deck officer with Transocean Maritime Agencies, gaining extensive experience in maritime operations.

In 2016, Barbarić furthered his expertise in port security by participating in the “Port Security” program in London, UK. The same year, he shared his knowledge and insights as a contributor at the 10th International Conference of Croatian Security Managers, held in Opatija, Croatia.