New research: First scientific insight into emissions from the Croatian charter fleet based on real-world data

(Photo: Green Sail)

Croatia is one of the world’s leading destinations for nautical and charter tourism, yet until now there has been no systematic collection of data on vessel emissions in this sector.

A new scientific study, conducted in collaboration between the Institute for Tourism, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture and Green Sail, provides the first scientific insight into charter fleet emissions based on real operational vessel data.

The research is based on data collected through the Green Sail Footprint program in marinas located in the Šibenik-Knin and Split-Dalmatia counties, in cooperation with charter companies and skippers.

The analysis included data on fuel consumption, engine operating hours, and technical characteristics of sailboats, yachts, and catamarans ranging from 10 to 20 metres in length.

The results confirm that emissions increase with vessel size and type, with catamarans having a higher emissions footprint due to greater fuel consumption.

Although they represented around one-third of the sample, catamarans generated a disproportionately higher share of total emissions, a finding that is particularly relevant given the rapid growth of this market segment.

Based on a sample of 160 vessels, the results were extrapolated to Croatia’s total charter fleet of approximately 4,500 vessels, with estimated seasonal emissions of 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes of CO₂.

(Photo: Green Sail)

This represents the first large-scale emissions assessment of the Croatian charter sector and highlights the importance of high-quality data as a foundation for the sustainable development of nautical tourism.

The study demonstrates how collaboration between science and industry can deliver scientifically robust data that is essential for a smart transition towards more responsible and long-term sustainable nautical tourism.

For more details, please view the full research study here.