Croatia's navigation areas and boat types
1The lesson in plain words
Area III reaches 12 nautical miles (NM) from the nearest mainland or island coast. Its sub-areas IIIa, IIIb and IIIc reach 6, 3 and 1 NM.
The rule book
Croatian boats are governed by the Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama (Ordinance on boats and yachts, Narodne novine 13/2020, amended by 52/2020), made under the Pomorski zakonik (Maritime Code). The harbour master's offices (lučke kapetanije) and the Croatian Register of Shipping apply it.
Boat types
A brodica is a seagoing boat with hull length up to 15 m, authorised for no more than 12 passengers, that is over 2.5 m in hull length or has total propulsion power over 5 kW. A jahta has hull length over 15 m, is built for extended recreational stays at sea and is authorised for up to 12 passengers besides crew. A čamac is for inland waters.
The areas
Area I: unlimited international navigation. Area II: up to 20 NM from the nearest coast of the mainland or an island. Area III: up to 12 NM, with three sub-areas: IIIa up to 6 NM, IIIb up to 3 NM and IIIc up to 1 NM. Area IV: ports, bays, river mouths and rivers as far as they are navigable from the sea.
Design category
A CE-marked boat (built to EU design standards) may use areas that match its design category. A: all areas. B: II, III, its sub-areas and IV. C: III, its sub-areas and IV. D: IV only. Check the area in your boat’s papers: the harbour master may set a narrower area, weather or seasonal limit.
Jet skis and small hire boats
A jet ski may only use area IIIc, and only in Croatian internal and territorial waters. Hire boats up to 5 m with engines up to 5 kW may use only areas IIIc and IV. Distances are measured from the nearest coast of the mainland or an island, which helps in the Croatian archipelago.
2Key data
- Area I
- Unlimited international navigation
- Area II
- Up to 20 NM from the mainland or an island
- Area III
- Up to 12 NM; IIIa 6 NM · IIIb 3 NM · IIIc 1 NM
- Area IV
- Ports, bays, river mouths and rivers
- Jet ski
- Area IIIc only, in Croatian waters
- Brodica / jahta: hull length
- Brodica: ≤15 m; >2.5 m or >5 kW. Jahta: >15 m.
3Key points
- 1
Areas: I unlimited, II 20 NM, III 12 NM, IV ports and bays.
- 2
Area III splits into IIIa (6 NM), IIIb (3 NM) and IIIc (1 NM).
- 3
Distances count from the mainland or the nearest island.
- 4
CE categories: A all; B II, III, IIIa–c, IV; C III, IIIa–c, IV; D IV only. Recorded restrictions still apply.
- 5
Jet skis: area IIIc only.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: Area III means within 12 NM of the mainland.
Right: It is 12 NM from the nearest coast of the mainland or of an island, so a route along the islands can stay in area III far from the mainland.
Wrong: A jet ski may go wherever its owner's boat goes.
Right: A jet ski is limited to area IIIc, 1 NM from the coast, in Croatian waters.
5Practice case & exam keys
Your CE category C motorboat (7.5 m, Croatian-registered) is entered for area IIIa. You want to cross from Split to the island of Vis, a crossing where you will be up to about 8 NM from the nearest land. May you?
Show the answer
No. Your papers limit you to IIIa: 6 NM from the nearest mainland or island coast. The route reaches 8 NM. Category C can qualify for area III, but does not override that recorded limit. Stay within 6 NM, or ask the harbour master about approval for area III before taking this route.
Exam keys
- Area I unlimited; II 20 NM; III 12 NM (IIIa 6, IIIb 3, IIIc 1 NM); IV ports and bays.
- Distances from the nearest coast of the mainland or an island.
- A: all areas. B: II, III, its sub-areas and IV. C: III, its sub-areas and IV. D: IV only. Recorded restrictions still apply.
- Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama, NN 13/2020 (and 52/2020).
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