Croatia cracks down on summer speeding as more than 50 boating offences recorded in one week

RIJEKA, Croatia, 16 July 2026 – Croatian maritime police have recorded a sharp rise in boating offences during the summer season, with illegal high-speed sailing too close to the shore remaining the most common violation.

Crews from the Maritime Police in Rijeka recorded more than 50 cases of vessels gliding at a distance of less than 300 metres from the coast in just one week.

The 300-metre rule is intended to protect swimmers and other people using the sea, including divers, stand-up paddleboarders and kayakers.

Police say most offenders are foreign visitors, with violations recorded across the Kvarner Gulf.

Particular problem areas include the waters beneath the Krk Bridge, the waters around the island of Krk and the area around the island of Rab. The Rijeka area has seen fewer such offences, partly because there are fewer vessels and more local boaters who are familiar with the rules.

“People think they are far enough from the shore at 300 metres, but at high speed they are not aware of the danger they can create for swimmers, divers, SUP users and kayakers,” Darko Bilić, commander of a maritime police patrol vessel, told HRT.

Police say the number of fines issued for illegal speeding has increased by 40 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The minimum fine for the offence is €400, while the highest penalty can reach €7,000.

During routine inspections, officers also regularly discover other violations. These include boaters failing to carry vessel and personal documents or proof of insurance. Other offences include anchoring or mooring illegally close to the shore.

Police say some boaters claim they were unaware they were breaking the rules.

“The most common excuse is: ‘I didn’t know, nobody told me, I wasn’t informed.’ They claim not to know, but once we explain the rules governing their behaviour at sea, they become aware of the violation and accept the offence,” said Dražen Šarčević, assistant chief for maritime policing at the Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Administration.

Police have also warned that the consequences of careless navigation can be serious.

In recent years, there have been injuries and incidents involving speedboats striking swimmers, highlighting the dangers of travelling at high speed close to the coast.

With Croatia’s coastal waters becoming increasingly busy during the summer season, maritime police are urging all boaters to slow down, follow navigation regulations and maintain a safe distance from the shore.

A moment of inattention, police warn, can be enough to turn an otherwise carefree day at sea into a tragedy.