Access, Navigation and Stay

Vessels may sail and stay in the coastal seas, rivers and lakes of the Republic of Croatia if they obtain authorization. Foreign sport rowing and sailing vessels up to 3 m length, and motor boats up to 3 m length with a motor up to 4 kW may sail and stay in coastal waters, rivers and lakes without authorization.

Entry by sea in a boat or yacht

Definition: "boat" is an open sports boat (e.g. dinghy, a rubber boat) which does not have sleeping facilities. A "yacht" is a boat with a covered cabin.

If the owner or master of a foreign vessel wishes to sail and stay in coastal waters, rivers and lakes, after entering the coastal sea, river or lake he must take the shortest route to the nearest port or harbor open to international traffic, register his arrival with the authorized body in that harbor and apply for authorization to sail.

International maritime boarder crossings: Permanent Umag, Porec, Rovinj, Pula, Rasa-Brsica, Rijeka, Mali Losinj, Senj, Zadar, Sibenik, Split, Ploee, Metkovic, Korcula and Dubrovnik. Seasonal (open from 1 April to 30 October) Novigrad, Sali, Bozava, Ravni Zakanj (Kornati), Ubli (Lastovo), Komiza (Vis), Vis (Vis) and Hvar.

If upon entering Croatian waters a vessel cannot reach a port open to international traffic because of "force majeure", it must register as soon as possible at the nearest harbourmaster's office or its branch offices.

Passport regulations

A valid passport is required for entering Croatia. West European citizens can enter the country with just an identity card. Visitors travelling with passport can stay for up to three months. For a longer stay, apply to the local authorities. Visitors entering the country with an identity card can stay for up to 30 days. Engagement in professional activity in Croatia is subject to official authorization.

Persons who during their stay in Croatia live on board of the yacht are required, in addition to registering the yacht, at the harbourmaster’s office, to register with the police. This can be done in a marina, travel agency, hotel or police station (the relevant information can be obtained from the harbourmaster’s office). All persons who have registered with the police are issued with a registration card.

Failure to obtain a registration card can cause difficulties. (Persons who stay overnight is a hotel or camping ground will be issued the registration card automatically when checking in at the reception desk).

The master of a vessel must immediately after landing in a port or harbour register with the border police or the nearest police administration or station every person who is on the vessel without a valid passport. The master of the vessel must not allow a person without a valid passport to disembark in the port or harbour without authorization of the border police. If the vessel stopped outside a border crossing due to higher forces, the master must immediately register the persons who disembarked and boarded with the nearest police administration or station. Crew members may not leave the area of the border crossing before submitting to the stipulated border control.

Entry by land with boats or yachts

Water sport craft can be imported into Croatia without any particular formalities by land, i.e. on a trailer, on the roofrack, in the luggage boot or in a truck. They just have to be declared at the border crossing. All water sport craft imported into Croatia which are longer than 3 meters and all boats with an engine (even under 3 m) can be used only after they have been registered at a harbourmaster’s office.
See also Transport of boats

Motor vehicles

The green insurance card is mandatory for entering or transiting Croatia in a car or truck. Motorists who do not have one must purchase a temporary third-party insurance policy for Croatia at the border crossing (even if they have a third-party insurance policy for the vehicle). The cost of insurance is about 70 DM.

Wide/long vehicles

Vehicles which, with the trailer, are longer than 18 m, wider than 2,5 m and higher than 4 m, must have a special license in Croatia. For more information, see section Transport of boats.

Exit by sea

When leaving the Croatian territorial waters, the skipper must call at a port open to international traffic and go through the necessary formalities (informing the harbourmaster of his departure). The yacht must then leave the Croatian territorial waters without delay and by the shortest route.

Exit by land

Vessels taken out of the country by land, i.e. on a trailer, roofrack, luggage boot or truck, must be checked out at the harbourmaster’s office.

Authorization Issue

The owner or master of a foreign vessel must register his arrival with the authorized port authority or harbour office by filling in the form "Registration of arrival and stay of foreign yachts or boats in the territorial sea and internal waters of the Republic of Croatia" (Prijava dolaska i boravka strane jahte i brodice u teritorijalnom moru i unutrasnjim vodama Republike Hrvatske). If the vessel meets the conditions for arrival and stay, a one-year authorization can be on the registration form.

General conditions for obtaining authorization:

• Fill in the registration of arrival form- name and registered number of vessel, length of vessel, state flag of the country of registration, and name and family name of owner;

• Pay navigation security compensation using the payment slip that is part of the registration of arrival form;

• Submit a valid boat certificate issued according to regulations in the country the boat is registered in;

• Submit documents confirming the crew members sailing qualifications (yachtmaster's certificate - see below);

• Submit third-party insurance in accordance with special law (insurance policy - blue card);

• Submit a list of crew members and other persons on the vessel.
  

Yachtmaster's certificate

When navigating in Croatian waters, skippers must have a yachtmaster’s certificate (or navigation license), issued according to the regulations pertaining to navigation in similar waters in their country of origin.

Navigation licenses obtained by foreigners in Croatia are recognized in Croatia but not in their country of origin.

Licenses issued by the authorities of the former Yugoslavia have to be reissued by the competent authority.

Skippers who do not have a yachtmaster’s certificate (coastal), can be given the navigation test by the harbourmaster (against payment), in which they will have to prove their knowledge of rules of the road, meteorology, navigation and seamanship. If they pass the test, they will be issued with a license, the validity of which is limited to the duration of their stay in Croatia.
(Skippers who do not possess a navigation license can be prosecuted; moreover, they may lose their insurance cover in case of an accident.)

Boat Equipment

There are no regulations concerning the equipment of boats navigating in coastal waters. Foreign yachts must therefore observe regulations valid in their country of origin.

According to an earlier regulation, which also obtained for foreign yachts navigating in Croatian waters, the following equipment was mandatory:
an anchor with chain or rope (at least 30 m long);
at least 2 mooring ropes (each at least 10 m long);
two oars or paddles (for small boats);
a hand pump or bucket and dipper;
six red handflares and two boxes of matches or corresponding distress signaling equipment (in waterproof wrapping);
a rear-view mirror (if pulling a water-skier).

It is advisable to equip the boat with sufficiently heavy anchors enough to secure and mooring rope that is long and strong enough to secure the boat in all weather conditions. It must also be borne in mind that in some ports the rings and bollards are wide apart, which makes long ropes indispensable.

The first-aid kit should be shacked and renewed every year. In hot weather, sticking plasters can lose their adhesiveness and medicines their effectiveness (the expiry date on the package is, as a rule, designed only for moderate northern latitudes!)

Radio Telephones

For reasons of safety at sea and ease of communication it is advisable to have a VHF radio telephone on board. The dense network of radio stations on the Croatian coast makes it possible to establish contact (if geologically possible) with a land station from all points in the coastal waters.

Radio equipment may be used only with a license issued in the owner’s country of origin. Operating a radio station at sea without a license is regarded by all authorities in the world as radio piracy. The use of mobile telephones is legal in Croatia. The international D1 or D2 network can be used.

Navigation security compensation

Compensation is paid by all foreign yachts or sport and pleasure boats. Compensation is establish according to type - boat or yacht - and length of vessel. The amount is quoted in German marks and is paid in Kunas according to the mean rate of exchange of the National Bank of Croatia on the day of payment.

Height of compensation

Navigation security compensation for yachts entered in the Croatian Register of Ships

Yachts owned by foreign citizens which are entered in the Croatian Register of Ships (or boats entered in the Register of Boats) must pay 20 DM for sailing in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

Compensation for attesting the seaworthiness of foreign yachts, sport sailing boats and sport boats

If a foreign vessel does not have the necessary documents according to the regulations of its country, it can request inspection from the port authority or harbour office. Compensation is regulated and depends on the length of the vessel.

The amounts are quoted in German marks and are paid in Kunas according to the mean rate of exchange of the National Bank of Croatia on the day of payment.

Inspection compensation

Compensation of 20 DM is paid for inspection of a sea radio station.

Paying demurrage

When a vessel makes use of a port anchorage it pays demurrage at a reduced rate, to a maximum of one half of that compensation. Compensation is paid in the port anchorage in which the corresponding services can be offered. It is not possible to charge in bays and free anchorage sites where no services are offered.

Currency regiulation

The official currency in Croatia is the kuna (HRK). The currency is fully convertible.

The value of the kuna has been, stable for the past two years. Foreign currency can be exchanged into kuna in all banks, post offices, marinas, travel agencies and other official agencies at the same rate throughout the country. Major credit cards are accepted in many places.

Zones in which navigation is prohibited

In agreement with the Croatian Navy (HRM), the number and size of zones in which sailing is prohibited has been greatly decreased. Although the HRM has not yet officially abolished the former prohibited zones, everything north of the island of Hvar is considered free for sailing, except parts of ports that are naval ports and a small number of prohibited and protected areas.

Naval Ports
Designated parts of the ports of Pula, Sibenik, Split (Lora) and Ploce (Bazine).

Prohibited areas and protected areas
I. The area around the Isles of Brijuni ia s zone in which navigation is prohibited. It is delimited by the folowing lines:
Zone I
   1) Rt Barbaren - RT Kadulja
   2) Rt Kadulja - Isle of Supiniæ
Isle of Supiniæ - Position A (longitude: 44^o 52,6'N latitude: 13^o42,2' E)
   3) Position A - position B: (longitude: 44^o52,6'N, latitude: 13^o45,1'E)
   4) Position B - Postion C: (longitude: 44^o53,2'N, latitude: 13^o46,0'E)
   5) Position C - Rt Kamnik
Zone II
The south-eastern part of the Isle of Brijuni within the connecting line Rt Kavran - Rt - Kozlac.

II. Navigation is prohibited in Limski kanal on the Western coast of Istria because there is a shelifish farm in it. Only a limited number of excursion boats can navigate in the bay.

III. The largest and best known protected area is the Kornati National Park, which extends from Prolaz Proversa Vela (south of the island Dugi Otok) to the southern point of the Isle of Kornati.  All activities that may pollute the sea are strictly prohibited.

IV. Navigation is prohibited in several bays because of the fish farms located in them. They are listed in pilot books and are marked by signs on the shore and on buoys.

V. Under a regulation of the Ministry for Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications, the following activities are prohited in the interest of safety of swimmers and navigation:
in harbours: swimming, speedboating, windsurfing, water sking;
windsurfing in narrow lanes used for commercial shipping;
boats must keep at a distance of at least 50 m from such ships; motorboats and sailboats must keep at least 50 m swimming outside marked bathing areas or off the open shore within a distance of more than 100 m;
polluting the sea with plastic, glass and other packaging materials and rubbish.
speedboats, jet-propelled boats and hovercraft must keep at least 250 m from the shore and in areas when the navigation of such craft is not prohibited.

Participation in Sporting Events

A foreign vessel entering the coastal sea, rivers or lakes of the Republic of Croatia to take part in sports competitions does not pay navigation security compensation.

The organizer of the sports event must register a foreign yacht or foreign boat. The registration term is at least five days prior to the beginning of the competition. The registration is submitted to the authorized port authority.

Transport of boats

1. General information

   When transporting a boat on Croatian roads, bear in mind that both the Adriatic Highway and roads in the interior of the country can be rough in places. Is is therefore essential to secure the boat tightly on the trailer or truck. Another word of caution: the Adriatic Highway, especially in Velebitski Kanal, is exposed to the bora and drivers should be prepared for strong susts in windy weather. Careful driving is therefore highly recommended.

2. Vehicle size
   Driving on Croatian roads without a special licence is permitted only if the vehicle
   • is not wider than 2.50 m(including the load)
   • is not longer than 18 m (including the load and or trailer)
   • is not higher than 4 m.
3. Speed limits
   Speed limits for cars with trailers in Croatia:
   - in bulit-up areas 60 km/h
   - on country roads 80 km/h
   - on motorways 80 km/h
   
   Speed limits in Austria:
   - in bulit-up areas 50 km/h
   - on country roads 100 km/h (trailers up to 750 kg total weight) 80 km/h (for trailers over 750 kg)
   - on motorways 100 km/h
   
   Speed limits in Italy:
   - in built-up areas 50 km/h
   - on country roads 80 km/h
   - on motorways 100 km/h
   
   Vehicles which, with the trailer and load, exceed 18 m in length, 2,5 m in width and 4 m in height, must have a special licence. Such a licence can be obtained from

Obtaing the license may take quite a long time. It should not be forgotten that Germany, Austria and Italy may also require a special license for excess width in the future.

Wintering of Yachts in Croatia

Privately owned yachts can be left in Croatia for wintering or repaid for an unlimited period of time with a legal or natural person registered for this activity (a marina or a private individual who has obtained the necessary license from the municipal authorities).

Boat rental (Charter)

a) Yachts may be hired (chartered) only from registered, authorized companies, domestic and foreign. It is irrelevant for the client whether the yacht files the Croatian or a foreign flag. Chartering yachts for profit without a license issued by the Croatian authorities is illegal and may have unpleasant consequences for the owner, skipper and crew.

b) The chartering (renting out) of one or several yachts against payment is a commercial activity which in Croatia, as in all other market-oriented countries, is subject to official authorization. Chartering without such an authorization is considered "lack charter" and is punishable.
Information about legal charter activity can be obtained from agencies such as marinas.

c) There are lot of of charter companies  in Croatia. Usually they are located in marinas. 

Change of Crew

Privately owned yachts can be left in Croatia for wintering or repaid for an unlimited period of time with a legal or natural person registered for this activity (a marina or a private individual who has obtained the necessary license from the municipal authorities).