Minimums certification to skipper Croatia on private yacht

[Ausluke]

Does anyone know the minimum qualifications that Croatian officials will ask for during check in or at any point, to privately skipper my own yacht. being foreigner

[Rapanui]

An ICC International Certificate of Competence. If you want to cruise inland then you will need a CEVNI endorsement but not really applicable to Croatia. The ICC is usually a practical exam on boat handling with questions, takes about a day.

[boatman61]

No need to add more.. he's pretty much covered all the base's..

[athene]

You can find the official list of recognised sailing qualifications here: http://www.mppi.hr/UserDocsImages/TA...%29%203_11.pdf.

In practice, these requirements are more observed when chartering a Croatian flagged yacht. For private yachts, the Croatian authorities are often more concerned to ensure you pay the necessary cruising and sojourn taxes on entry. We were asked for the ICC on arrival in Montenegro in 2014 but not in Croatia.

Having said that, I wouldn't like to risk not being able to produce an ICC or one of the other accepted certifications, since some port officials can be sticklers for the rules.

GORDON KNIGHT

[kas_1611]

Boat Registration / Proof of Ownership / Permission of owner to use the vessel if it is not yours.
Crew List
Insurance Certificate
Ships Radio Licence
Personal Radio Licence (Short Range Certificate for VHF plus any relating to HF or MF radio transmitters)
Proof of Competence, minimum ICC but as long as it is an officially recognised qualification, such as USCG Master's Certificate or RYA Yachtmaster for instance, you should be OK. You can get the ICC free with an RYA Day Skipper certificate if you are a member of the RYA. Other national sailing federations may offer the same.

You may not need any or all of these when you clear in but the Kapitanja and Police do do random document checks on non Croatian flagged vessels both in harbour and out at sea. They are normally very polite and efficient so be friendly and you'll have no issues. Keep hold of the paperwork they give you as proof of "control" so you don't have to go through it again.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by kas_1611

You can get the ICC free with an RYA Day Skipper certificate if you are a member of the RYA.* Other national sailing federations may offer the same.**

* Only in case you are British citizen or resident.
** They do, but only based on their own qualifications to their own citizens/residents, not on the RYA day skipper. These can be significantly more difficult (-> give more $$$) to get, examples I've seen are approximately YM coastal level.

Welcome to the nice, unified, protectionist Europe...

At least that's the theory. Whether a valid ICC can be obtained in a simple exam somewhere by any national/citizen is unknown to me.

[earlgray]

Originally Posted by GTom

*

Welcome to the nice, unified, protectionist Europe...

that's right, I wonder what "paper work" Europeans would need if taking their boats to US/Aus

[GTom]

Originally Posted by earlgray

that's right, I wonder what "paper work" Europeans would need if taking their boats to US/Aus

Credit card.
Maybe insurance & passport as well.

[Rapanui]

The requirement for an ICC or equivalent in Croatia is a national requirement, nothing to do with the EU. Many EU countries do not require any qualifications to sail their waters, UK and France for 2. Inland waters more often require certification.
I find it sad when people leap on supposed EU red tape without knowledge. All countries have it to some extent, if the posts on this forum are true, the USA is far from exempt.

[Ausluke]

Originally Posted by Rapanui

The requirement for an ICC or equivalent in Croatia is a national requirement, nothing to do with the EU. Many EU countries do not require any qualifications to sail their waters, UK and France for 2. Inland waters more often require certification.
I find it sad when people leap on supposed EU red tape without knowledge. All countries have it to some extent, if the posts on this forum are true, the USA is far from exempt.

Could you elaborate on “national requirement”
My Australian skipper ticket (unlimited vessels) could be acceptable?

[Barra]

Originally Posted by Ausluke

Could you elaborate on “national requirement”
My Australian skipper ticket (unlimited vessels) could be acceptable?

Yes that will be acceptable to them.

Croatia and montenegro are the only 2 med countries that have asked for any kind of skippers ticket from me (Aussie passport and flag). At the time i only had a letter verison of my QLD skippers ticket so when they asked for a photo ID they were happy to take my PADI licence to tick the box they needed to.

Croatia did ask for a MROC (VHF radio licence) as a heads up.

[Ausluke]

Originally Posted by Barra

Yes that will be acceptable to them.

Croatia and montenegro are the only 2 med countries that have asked for any kind of skippers ticket from me (Aussie passport and flag). At the time i only had a letter verison of my QLD skippers ticket so when they asked for a photo ID they were happy to take my PADI licence to tick the box they needed to.

Croatia did ask for a MROC (VHF radio licence) as a heads up.

Thanks Barra,
How long ago was that?

[Barra]

Originally Posted by Ausluke

Thanks Barra,
How long ago was that?

2014.

[Rapanui]

Every country has the sovereign right to impose national requirements for any vessels navigating their territorial waters, in international waters IMO regulations apply. For countries within the EU that remains the responsibilty of the individual nation. While Croatia has a requirement for skipper qualifications, because citizens of so many different countries charter boats in Croatia, they are very used to dealing with qualifications from those countries.
Where the EU does get involved is in products such as boats and equipment where a product placed on the market in any EU country has to meet the same regulations, hence the CE mark which means that the product meets all applicable EU regulations.

[LACHLANC]

Originally Posted by Barra

Yes that will be acceptable to them.

Croatia and montenegro are the only 2 med countries that have asked for any kind of skippers ticket from me (Aussie passport and flag). At the time i only had a letter verison of my QLD skippers ticket so when they asked for a photo ID they were happy to take my PADI licence to tick the box they needed to.

Croatia did ask for a MROC (VHF radio licence) as a heads up.

FYI - with the new Greek DEKPA / Transit Log introduction 6-12 months ago most if not all people were required to show ICC or equivalent and many if not most were required to show a MROCP (i.e. VHF licence).