Nautical info

Useful information for navigators, owners or users of rented vessels

Boats and ships must keep at the following distances from the shore:

ships and boats for sports and recreation - at least 200m
motorboats and sailboats - at least 50m
Rowing boats are allowed to sail at a distance less than 50m from the shore.
In the sea area by the beach boats must sail at a distance greater than 50m from the impounded water of an arranged beach, or 150m from the coast of a natural beach.
Jet-propelled vessels (jet-ski, etc.) or air-cushion vessels may skim only in the area where skimming is allowed (determined by harbour masters offices), at a distance greater than 300m from the shore.
Jet-propelled vessels (jet-ski, etc.) may pass to the area where skimming is allowed only through properly marked passages at a minimum speed.
Speedboats may skim in the area where skimming is not forbidden at a distance greater than 300m from the shore.

It is forbiden to the owner or user of ship VHF radio station to transmit false and incorrect signals or notices, especially for distress, urgency, safety or identification. Water skiing instructions are allowed only in designated areas which are properly marked. Areas where water skiing is forbidden and areas where water skiing instructions are allowed are determined by harbour masters offices, as well as marking of such areas.
The following activities are forbidden without a permission of the harbour masters office: windsurfing, skimming and swimming in harbours.

Windsurfing is forbidden at harbour entrances and on waterways, in narrow passages and within an arranged beach. Taking off and landing on the maritime demesne with a parachute or an aircraft is allowed only on the properly marked surfaces. Swimming is forbidden beyond the impounded water of an arranged beach. Swimming is forbidden at a distance greater than 100m from the coast of a natural beach. Swimming is forbidden on waterways and in narrow passages and channels.

Steadily broadcast weather reports:

Harbour masters office PULA – VHF channel 73 – Northern adriatic(west coast of Istria)
Harbour masters office RIJEKA – VHF channel 69 – Northern adriatic(east part)
Harbour masters office SPLIT – VHF channel 67 – Middle adriatic(east part)
Harbour masters office DUBROVNIK – VHF channel 73 – South adriatic(east part)

National Center for Rescue is located in Rijeka, call the phone number 9155.

Working time of the harbour master offices: every day 00:00 – 24:00
Working time of the branches: 07:00 – 13:00; 1. april till 1. october: 07:00 – 12:00 and 16:00 – 20:00
They are present at VHF channels: 16 and 10.

Protection of marine environment

It is forbidden to discard into the sea and on the seashore olied water and faecal discharges, as well as plastic, metal, glass and other solid or liquid waste which pollutes the environment. It is forbidden to damage, destroy, remove or misappropriate any part of archaeological sites and historical wrecks. In the protected sea areas (national parks and nature parks) special regulations governing order and behaviour are in force.

Underwater activities

maska Underwater activities imply diving for pleasure and sports. Croatian citizens and foreign nationals may perform diving only if they hold a valid divers card issued by the Croatian Diving Federation. Divers card is valid for a year following the date of issue, and is issued only to divers with a valid divers certification recognised by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport. Diving area must be clearly marked with an orange or red buoy (larger than 30cm in diameter) placed in the centre of the area, or with a diving flag highly displayed on the diving vessel. Diving is prohibited in the parts of internal waters encompassing harbours, harbour approaches, anchorages, and areas of heavy traffic. Maximum permitted depth of recreational scuba diving is 40m. Diving in the protected areas is allowed only with a special permit in conformity with Regulations on Underwater Activities. Following the above mentioned Regulations, diving can be either organised or individual. Diving is organised by a diving centre, a diving association, a diving club, and another natural person or legal entity registered to conduct underwater activities in the Republic of Croatia. Individual diving is allowed only with a permit for individual diving issued by harbour masters offices or branch offices. For obtaining a permit for individual diving it is necessary:

to have a valid divers card
to pay the amount specified by Regulations on Underwater Activities.

Additional information is available from the nearest harbour masters office or its branch office.