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Marinas in Croatia

Not only the Croatian coast is among the most indented ones with many natural bays and beaches, it abounds in numerous marinas with over 12 500 sea berths and 7 500 land berths.

All the marinas along the coast are well equipped, especially ACI marinas, offering various facilities; restaurants, bars, toilets, showers, parking place, grocery shop and much more.

Besides, they are all approachable, so one can easily get there whether he arrives by car, ferry or plane for the marinas are well connected to the harbors and airports.

Many ports of nautical tourism made some additions to their service: traditional cuisine, water and electricity, doctor's services, services of charter companies, accommodation in apartments, and electronic surveillance and security of guests belongings.

Adriatic Croatia International Club, known as ACI, is a leading company in Croatian nautical tourism. ACI marinas offer high quality service and have contributed to the popularization of sailing. Nevertheless the impeccable service the Croatian marinas offer, the constant improvement is always in the first place. ACI club presents a unique chain of 21 marinas, which extend from Dubrovnik in the south to Umag in the northern part of the Croatian Adriatic. The head office of the ACI Club is in Opatija. In the 17 years of conducting business the ACI marinas have through their efforts of developing popularisation of sailing and by means of recognizable architectural characteristics realized recognizable quality of services. Visitors to the modern equipped ACI marina can along with the regular reception use other technical services, have access to restaurants, snack bars, stores, laundromats and other contents which enrich their stay and make it pleasurable. The professional navigators know the ACI club as a regatta organizer in dual sailing, among which, the ACI cup and World Cup in dual sailing held in Dubrovnik in 1996 and in Split in 2000 stand out.

The association, among other things stands out in the promotion of nautical tourism in Croatia and is a participant in all major nautical fairs in Europe. The association of nautical tourism, that is Croatian Marina Association, has achieved successful cooperation with the yacht club Austria, the Board for marinas at the Slovenian Chamber of commerce, and the German association of motor yachts.

During the year 1997 contracts were signed on five-year cooperation with the German association. With the yacht club Austria and the Slovenian Chamber of commerce contract was signed for one year, with the clause of automatic extension of contract after the expiry date.
In turn Croatian marinas get complete support in Austrian media services. They receive free support in all media accessible to the German association of motor yachts (Sander magazine, daily and summer press, professional magazines, TV and radio promotion).

Because nautical tourism represents one of the most attractive tourist offers of our country, the Association of nautical tourism is where useful and vital information for navigators can be obtained, and where they can discuss professional problems, and with the help of the association solve them.
Therefore advancing tourism to the joy and contentment of the navigators and guests who have chosen our coast, islands and sea as their holiday destination.

For any information about legal regulations: access, navigation and stay, authorization issue, navigation security compensation, paying demurrage, currency regulation, yahtmaster's certificate, wintering of yachts in Croatia zones in which navigation is prohibited, boat equipment, radio telephones, participation in sporting events, transport of boats, boat rental & charter companies, change of crew you can contact nearest port of authority. Harbourmaster's offices and marinas can usually be contacted on VHF- channel 17, at least during the day. Most Harbourmaster's offices have their own patrol boats, with which they can help boats in distress even in bad weather. In keeping with international custom and practice, harbourmasters have the right to engage the help of every suitable ship, including foreign yachts.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MARINAS

Berth Fees in Marinas
Fees are charged in Croatian marinas for yacht berths and other services. They are usually fixed and published in the autumn for the following year.

Mooring Fees in Public Harbours
On public piers in harbours under municipal authority, the local authorities have the right to charge mooring fees. The amount of the fee depends on the size of the yacht and the length of pier it occupies, which means that yachts mooring alongside the pier will pay more than those mooring stern of bows to. When berthing "in a pack" (several yachts mooring alongside each other), the mooring fee is charged for every yacht. The amount of the fee is determined by the local authority can vary from one harbour to another.

Berth Fees in Bays
In some areas, the local authorities charge mooring fees for yachts moored in bays under their authority. In return, garbage is collected and, in some places, groceries delivered. Law will in future regulate the extent to which fees can be charged without any service being provided. Persons collecting mooring fees must identify themselves by producing a printed receipt.

Buying Food
Shopping for food presents no problems along the Croatian coast or on the islands. All marinas and harbour have well-supplied supermarkets. However, during prolonged spells of bad weather there can be a shortage of fresh vegetables and bread on small islands, which do not have a regular ferry service. Food prices are comparable to those in Europe. Restaurants can be more expensive on small islands.

Fuel
Fuel is easily available both on roads and in harbours. All types of petrol, including unleaded petrol, and diesel are available; however, unleaded petrol pumps and less common on piers. Petrol stations are temporarily closed for safety reasons when they are being supplied with petrol from tankers. During off-season periods, opening hours of petrol stations can be limited to a few, usually morning, hours. During the main season, and especially in the morning hours, the large number of customers may cause queuing and considerable waiting times at petrol stations.

Water and Electricity in Marinas
All Croatian marinas and some harbours have water and electricity hook-ups on the pontoon-piers.
Water: water connections are usually 1 inch in diameter, 3 inch diameter connections are much less common. Because of possible water shortages in the summer months, most Croatian marinas require yachts to use hoses with taps.

Electricity: In Croatia the current is 220 V AC. In marinas and public harbours (as well as camping grounds), three-pin "Euro-plugs" are used. In some marinas (Punat, Kremik) a number of pillars have 'conventional' safety sockets.
The power pillars in some marinas are so wide apart (e.g. in Zut, Piskera, Palmizana) that extension leads with insulated connectors (storm, rain) are needed.
The number of power points is sometimes insufficient for all yachts that may need electricity at the same time. Well-insulated extension leads with connection elements

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