Last update: 18.07.2025
Navigation in Croatia: As of 29 March 2025, Croatia has adopted a new regulation on safety at sea called the “Regulation on the safety of maritime navigation in the internal waters and territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia and on the terms and conditions for the control and management of maritime traffic” drafted by the MINISTRY OF THE SEA, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
This new regulation introduces new rules to ensure the safety of navigation, the protection of the marine environment and the improvement of maritime traffic.
Here are some of the key points of this new regulation:
NAVIGATION AT MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM THE COAST: All boats must maintain minimum distances from the coastline according to their length:
- boats less than 15 m in length: must keep a distance from the coast of at least 50 m.
- boats between 15 and 30 m in length: must keep a distance from the coast of at least 150 m;
- boats 30 m or more in length: must keep a distance from the coast of 300 m.
The above distances also apply to organised bathing areas. The only exception: when entering or leaving harbours, the minimum distance is no longer compulsory as long as you reduce your speed in such a way that you can easily and quickly perform turning and stopping manoeuvres.
SPEED LIMITS: within 300 m from the coast and in narrow channels, a maximum speed limit of 8 knots has been set. In addition, gliding within this distance is prohibited unless authorised.
ANCHORAGE AND MOORING REGULATIONS:
- ANCHORING AND MOORING LINES ASHORE: Citing Article 53 of the Ordinance on the Safety of Maritime Navigation in the Inland Waters and Territorial Sea of the Republic of Croatia, (7) Plovnim objektima zabranjen je privez uz obalu na način da je bilo koji njihov dio ili pripadak udaljen od obale 50 ili više metara, (7) It is prohibited for vessels to be moored along the shore in such a way that any of their parts or accessories are 50 metres or more away from the shore.
- VISIBILITY: anchor chain and mooring lines shall be visible and marked and shall not hinder navigation
- MANOEUVRES: during manoeuvres (mooring, berthing, unmooring and anchoring), the person in charge of the boat shall act so that these manoeuvres do not endanger passengers and also the maritime environment, paying special attention to coastal vegetation;
- RESTRICTIONS: the port authorities may use the power to impose time and/or space restrictions on anchoring and mooring;
OBLIGATORY DOCUMENTATION ON BOARD: All pleasure boats must have on board
- valid nautical licence;
- identity document;
- ownership title or power of attorney;
- compulsory third party liability insurance;
- proof of payment of the maritime safety tax.
Notice: The information on this page is derived from an unofficial translation of the document below.
