European Megayachters Want Changes in Croatian Provisions on Cabotage

A yachting tourism forum began in the northern Adriatic resort of Opatija on Friday pooling 50 representatives from relevant ministries, Croatian and world yachting associations and marinas.

The conference, which ends on Sunday and was organized by the Croatian-French Forum, focuses on legislative solutions in Croatia's yachting tourism, notably concerning megayachts.

The president of the European Commission for Professional Yachting, Thierry Voisin, said that companies doing business with mehayachts, namely yachts longer than 24 meters, wanted to bring these yachts to Croatia but that this was impossible due to existing regulations on cabotage.

The Croatian Maritime Code stipulates that cabotage, the transport of passengers and cargo between Croatian ports, may be carried out only by ships sailing under the Croatian flag. The transfer of persons by foreign yachts is not considered cabotage if it is done free of charge.

Assistant Sea, Transport, Tourism and Development Minister Mario Babić said the Ministry was considering the possibility of allowing cabotage by large foreign yachts but not small ones.

'You have to understand our reservations about cabotage,' Babić said, adding that the Croatian side was willing to discuss this issue with European Union countries.

He also said it was true that there was no room for megayachts in Croatian marinas, but that Croatia was mulling how to enable them to tie in ports open for public transport. (Hina)

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