Croatia maritime safety reforms urged to combat amateurism

Ivan Toman from the University of Zadar’s Maritime Department has called for urgent reforms to weather warning systems and the introduction of stricter preventive measures to reduce maritime accidents in Croatian nautical tourism. Speaking at a professional meeting at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Toman warned of the dangers posed by “managing mass amateurism” within the sector.

Approximately 580,000 charter guests sail the Adriatic annually, 90 percent of whom are foreign nationals. With up to 87,000 vessel rentals per season, 43 percent are “bareboat” charters, meaning they are operated without a professional skipper. This has created a massive maritime traffic system managed largely by amateurs.

Data from the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure indicates that search and rescue (SAR) operations peak during the summer. While January averages 23 operations, the number rises to 71 in June, 117 in July, and reaches a peak of 140 in August. The Split Port Authority area is the most heavily burdened with 315 operations, followed by Zadar, Šibenik, Rijeka, and Dubrovnik. Primary causes of accidents include negligence regarding weather warnings, insufficient nautical experience, and inadequate vessel equipment.