- by croatiaweek
- July 30, 2026
-
in
News
(Photo: Lučke kapetanije PU)
Croatia has completed a nationwide maritime safety operation aimed at improving safety at sea during the busy summer season, with authorities carrying out hundreds of inspections across the country’s coastline.
The coordinated operation, known as Safe Navigation 2026 (SIGURNA PLOVIDBA 2026), took place on 29 July between 10:00 and 18:00 across all eight harbour master offices. The action was organised under Croatia’s maritime safety regulations and focused on ensuring safe navigation in the country’s internal waters and territorial sea.
A total of 115 harbour authority officers using 35 patrol vessels covered 1,441 nautical miles during the operation.
Officials carried out 382 inspections, identifying 182 breaches of maritime regulations. Fines totalling €79,208.49 were issued, while €44,884.24 was collected immediately at the scene from offenders.
Throughout the operation, patrol teams received live information from Croatia’s Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), which monitored areas of heavy vessel traffic, reported navigation offences and helped identify vessels operating in Croatian waters.
Inspectors checked a wide range of safety and legal requirements. These included the validity of vessel documents, crew numbers and qualifications, overcrowding on passenger excursion boats, mandatory reporting through the CIMIS maritime information system, charter vessel operations and the discharge of black and grey wastewater into the sea.
(Photo: Lučke kapetanije PU)
Authorities also monitored other activity affecting maritime safety, including irresponsible behaviour by swimmers and divers.
Alongside the enforcement activities, harbour authority staff responding to routine duties carried out several emergency medical transport missions during the day, most of them within the Zadar and Split harbour authority areas.
Croatian authorities said the operation was not only intended to penalise offenders but also to educate everyone using the sea. During inspections, boat operators and other participants in maritime traffic were reminded of the importance of understanding and following safety regulations before departure and while at sea.
(Photo: Lučke kapetanije PU)
The nationwide campaign forms part of Croatia’s ongoing efforts to improve maritime safety during the peak tourist season, when the Adriatic sees significantly higher levels of recreational and commercial marine traffic.
Key results of Safe Navigation 2026
• 35 patrol vessels deployed
• 115 harbour authority officers involved
• 1,441 nautical miles covered
• 382 inspections carried out
• 182 violations detected
• €79,208.49 in fines issued
• €44,884.24 collected on the spot
