Croatia tightens coastal laws: boat driver in turmoil!

Croatia tightens coastal laws: boat driver in turmoil!

From the end of March 2025, new, stricter regulations for boat drivers come into force in Croatia, who are already causing outrage for many water sports enthusiasts, especially Austrian and German vacationers. The Ordinance on Safety of the Sea shipping was published in the Official Journal "Narodne Novine NN 52/2025" and provides comprehensive changes to protect both swimmers and boaters.

The new distance rules, defined in Article 49, desire for watercraft, depending on the size, different minimum distances to the coast: For water vehicles over 30 meters, a distance of 300 meters applies, while boats between 15 and 30 meters have to adhere to 150 meters and at least 50 meters at least 50 meters. Fast trips with motor boats, water motorcycles and jet skis are only allowed from the bank from a distance of 300 meters.

tightened anchor rules and ambiguities

The regulation also contains stricter anchor rules in Article 53. According to this, the mooring of boats is only permitted if parts of the vehicle are less than 50 meters from the shore. Anchors are also prohibited within a radius of 150 meters for natural pool areas. However, this regulation raises questions: The definition of natural pool areas could cause practical problems for boat operators who are not sure where exactly that is allowed.

In the past few weeks there have been numerous discussions on social networks about the new regulations. While some water sports enthusiasts welcome this to improve water safety, other restrictions fear for their leisure fun. A comparison with other Mediterranean regions shows that similar measures have been taken against uncontrolled anchors, which means that this regulation must be considered in a larger context.

Additional regulations for personal watercraft

In addition, the term "personal watercraft" is introduced for the first time, whereby these do not have to be registered. During the day, they are allowed to drive up to 300 meters from the coast, but not near organized beaches. Boats that are not registered can move away from the mother ship as part of 500 meters. Furthermore, it is prohibited from approaching watercraft to closer than 50 meters of a diving marker unless they accompany a diver.

The new regulations for boat drivers in Croatia are not only a reaction to security concerns, but also an attempt to restructure leisure activities on the water. In view of the upcoming changes, it will be shown how these regulations will affect the attractiveness of the Croatian coastal regions for tourists. For more information and details on the new regulations, we refer to mandinus.hr and and [Sea-Help.eu] (https://www.sea-Help.eu/news-allgemeiten