As you may already know, a new Maritime Safety Ordinance came into force in April 2025, bringing stricter rules for navigation, anchoring, and coastal access in Croatia’s internal and territorial waters — this article serves as a reminder for those familiar with the changes and as important information for those who are not.
The ordinance defines the methods and conditions for maritime traffic control and supervision. It includes rules on collision avoidance, signals and markings, vessel reporting systems, and overall maritime safety regulations, which must be followed by ship captains, crew members, and anyone operating a boat or yacht.
Key Navigation Restrictions
According to the ordinance, mooring to lighthouses and buoys not designated for that purpose is prohibited. Approaching the shoreline is also restricted based on vessel type and size:
Vessels 30 meters and longer and seaplanes must stay at least 300 meters from shore
Vessels between 15 and 30 meters: must stay at least 150 meters from shore
Vessels under 15 meters: must stay at least 50 meters from shore
Exceptions
Vessels and seaplanes may reduce these distances only when approaching or leaving ports, anchoring, or docking — or when required by the shape of the navigation path. In these cases, speed must be reduced enough to allow safe and quick manoeuvring and stopping.
Restrictions Near Swimming Areas
Vessels must not approach the fence of organised swimming areas:
Vessels 30m+ and seaplanes: min. 300m distance
Vessels 15–30m: min. 100m distance
Vessels under 15m: min. 50m distance
Personal watercraft may navigate freely from sunrise to sunset up to 300 metres from the coast, except in organised swimming zones, where only pedal boats and paddleboards are allowed.
Support Vessels and Equipment
Vessels that are part of another maritime object (e.g., tenders registered as part of a mothership) may navigate up to 500 metres from their parent vessel unless transporting people or cargo between anchorage and port.
Vessels stored aboard another vessel and registered for work, sport, or leisure may operate freely within their approved navigation area.
Diving and Safety Structures
Vessels and personal watercraft must not come within 50 metres of a designated diving flag, except when escorting a diver. They may not tie to safety navigation structures or devices not intended for mooring, nor move along them.
Anchoring and Mooring Rules
Port authorities may prohibit or restrict anchoring and mooring along the coast. Mooring lines must be clearly marked. It is forbidden to moor a vessel if any part of it extends 50 metres or more from the shoreline. Mooring to trees is strictly prohibited.
When choosing a mooring or anchoring location, the person in charge must consider existing restrictions and other nearby vessels. All activities — sailing, docking, mooring, unmooring, and anchoring — must be conducted in a way that does not endanger lives, pollute the sea, or cause collisions, grounding, or damage.
Safety and Environmental Protection
The local port authority can impose area-specific restrictions based on vessel size or local traffic management plans.
Anchoring and mooring must be carried out in a way that ensures safety for people, property, the coastline, the marine environment, and nearby vessels, considering prevailing conditions and spatial limitations. Mooring lines and anchor chains must be properly marked and must not obstruct other vessels.
Mooring is not allowed if the vessel or its gear extends 50 metres or more from shore or if it damages coastal vegetation.
Strict Anchoring Prohibitions
Anchoring is strictly prohibited in the following areas:
Areas marked as no-anchoring zones in official publications or nautical charts
Areas where the port authority has prohibited or restricted anchoring
Near underwater cables, pipelines, and outlets — vessels must not anchor above or within 50 meters of them
Within 50 meters of organized swimming area boundaries
Within 150 meters of natural beaches
Mooring is also banned in both organised and natural swimming areas and in locations where underwater cables, pipelines, or outlets enter the sea.
You can read the new Maritime Safety Ordinance for Croatia’s internal and territorial waters HERE.
The Croatian Hydrographic Institute has also published a new navigation chart — 101 VTS CROATIA, effective from March 29, 2025, replacing chart 950 VTS CROATIA.
Photo: shutterstock
