Travelling to Croatia and boat registration etc.

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Hello, first time user here

I just put a deposit down on a small motorboat, 4.5 metre on a trailer. I am British, but spend a lot of time in the Czech Republic. A friend with a boat here says that the Croatian authorities where I intend to use the boat will insist I register it in the UK, or somewhere (he has a Czech registered boat) but the English authorities don't insist on registering boats and the only information I can find on what the Croats insist on is this:

All boats sailing to Croatia shall possess the following original documents:

>> vignette

>> certified crew list and passenger list

>> certified list of persons aboard (for vessels where change of crew is foreseen while sailing in Croatia)

>> certificate of seaworthiness

>> evidence that the skipper is competent for boat handling

>> evidence of third party insurance policy (for vessels whose engine power exceeds 15 kW)

>> ownership certificate or authorization for the use of vessel

Which doesn't seem to specify requiring registration. I am buying the boat new, it will have the EU CoC and of course I will have a receipt and other purchase papers. Does anyone have any experience with this? I got the Croat captain's licence last year, so I am allowed to use a boat, just not sure of the details now. Can someone help with a few pointers, perhaps a link to an official English speaking Croat website, or other such advice?

Thank you in advance.

Paul.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Paul, I have my boat in Croatia and I've never been asked to show a registration document although I would consider the other documents you have listed to be essential, especially the vignette and crew list. In any case, it would be very easy to get a UK registration document under the Small Ships Register (SSR) which you can apply for online here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Boatingandtravellingbywater/PleasureCraft/DG_180594. The SSR document is an official looking laminated document guaranteed to impress any customs official although it actually signifies very little in terms of confirming ownership!

 

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Hi and thank you for your reply Good to know the registration document isn't something they particularly crave. However, I had decided already to do the part III, I think it is called for £25. However, it seems everyone asked for one last week and Cardiff is swamped with applications and mine probably won't get back to me until I have already left :-( Just one thing though, how do I go about a certified crew list? There isn't really a crew, just me and anyone stupid enough to be towed behind my boat, the names of whom will change daily.... ;-)

It is ony a SeaDoo Speedster, just a big jet ski really...

Paul.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Paul, to be honest, I dont know whether a 4.5m boat needs all this documentation. You need to visit a harbourmaster's office in the town where you plan to launch your boat and ask them what you need. I've just found this website http://www.find-croatia.com/sailing-croatia/croatia-sailing-regulations1.html which gives a list of towns and marinas with main harbourmaster offices in Croatia. Note it also says the following

Owners of vessels that have arrived in Croatia by land must also call in to the Harbourmaster's Office before their vessel is launched to sea where, with the necessary documentation a vignette is purchased providing permission to sail.

In theory, you need to take the crew list along to a harbourmasters office every time you have new guests on your boat, with their passports, and get their names written on to the crew list and stamped. Obviously this is impractical if you're just messing about with friends on a banana but I think you need to discuss this with a harbourmaster official to understand what rules actually apply to you

 

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Hi
Once again, thanks for the advice. I shall try it like that, I just wanted to be prepared. I was hoping they wouldn't actually not allow me in the water for some strange reason...

Best wishes,

Paul.