The limit has been increased from 50 to 70 metres. It applies to shore mooring with a shore line and anchor --- and it does not simply measure the length of the line. Swimming areas, vegetation and local prohibitions remain additional restrictions.
70 metres inclusive is already too much
Since 25 April 2026, shore mooring is prohibited if any part of the vessel or its equipment is 70 metres or more from the shore. The amendment increased the previous limit from 50 to 70 metres. However, describing this as permission to use the full 70 metres is still incorrect: under this specific limit, the configuration must remain below 70 metres.
The additional space is not a blanket licence for every bay. The rule changes a geometric limit within a broader safety framework. Swimming areas, submarine cables, vegetation, navigation routes, protected areas and local prohibitions continue to apply. A configuration that is formally short enough may therefore still be prohibited at a particular location.
This does not mean every kind of anchoring
Croatian regulations define shore mooring as a method in which the vessel is tied to the shore while simultaneously secured by one or two anchors. Typically, the anchor lies out in the bay while a stern or bow line runs to the shore. A boat swinging freely on a single anchor without a shore line does not fall under this special definition merely because it is anchored.
The popular expression "70-metre shore-line rule" is useful shorthand, but it simplifies the legal provision. The rule is neither solely about the length of the shore line nor about every use of an anchor. Charter crews need to consider the entire shore-mooring configuration.
How the law describes the measurement
For deployed anchor chain or anchor line, the amendment identifies two points: the outermost point of the bow or stern and the point at the water surface where the chain or line enters the sea. The entire length of chain lying underwater is therefore not measured. Nor is an arbitrary midpoint of the boat the legally described starting point.
The measurement rule is intended to create verifiable geometry, but it does not replace nautical judgement. Wind, depth, angle and seabed determine how much chain is required for secure holding. If safe anchoring would only be possible by exceeding the statutory shore limit, the location does not suit that configuration.
Shore mooring since 25 April 2026
Measurement graphic of the Uferprivez with landline, boat, outermost bow or stern point and entry point of the anchor chain on the water surface
The bay must provide room for movement and passage
Mooring lines and anchor chains must not obstruct other boats or personal watercraft. They must be appropriately marked. A line stretched across the usable part of a bay does not become safe merely because your own boat remains within 70 metres. Neighbouring boats need room to arrive, depart and respond to changes in wind and direction.
Before the manoeuvre, look around carefully: Where are the approach route and possible escape route? How are boats already there swinging? Can people on SUPs, kayaks or dinghies see the line? If you only realise after tying up that the bay has been blocked, the location was assessed too late.
Swimming areas impose tighter limits
Shore mooring is prohibited within the waters of an organised or natural bathing area. When anchoring freely, the vessel's swinging circle must not come closer than 50 metres to the boundary of an organised bathing area; a minimum distance of 150 metres from the coast of a natural bathing area generally applies. These rules exist alongside the 70-metre limit.
An empty bay early in the morning is not automatically outside a bathing area. Markers, official charts, local notices and obvious use all need to be considered together. During the season, an area may be more heavily used or subject to additional local rules. If swimmers would have to pass between the shore and your boat, the shore mooring is poorly chosen regardless of the distance calculation.
Vegetation, cables and protected areas remain off limits
Shore lines must not damage coastal vegetation. Wrapping a line around a sensitive tree or running it through low maquis is not an acceptable solution. Restrictions also apply at landfalls of submarine cables, pipelines and outlets. The relevant information is not always obvious from the cockpit and must be checked on charts and in nautical publications.
National parks, nature parks, concession areas, ports and municipalities may impose additional rules. Posidonia meadows also require particular care when choosing where to place an anchor. The national 70-metre rule does not override stricter local requirements. When in doubt, choose the more protected location, a designated buoy or a different anchoring ground.
A proper routine before running a shore line
First check the current weather and possible wind shifts, then the official chart, bathing areas, cables or pipelines, and local prohibitions. Next assess depth and seabed, estimate the planned anchor position and the vessel's outermost point, and consider the traffic space. Only when the geometry remains below the limit and the anchoring arrangement makes nautical sense should the manoeuvre be prepared.
The crew should agree on roles and an abort signal. Nobody should jump ashore with a line under time pressure onto unfamiliar terrain. After mooring, check the anchor's holding, distances, chafe points and load direction again. A good shore line is not one that only just complies with the law, but one that works safely, visibly, without damage and without obstructing others.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
- Regulation on the safety of maritime shipping NN 52/2025Narodne novine / Republic of Croatia · March 26, 2025Definition of the shore permit and other anchor, bathing, cable and vegetation rules
- Amendment to the Shipping Safety Regulations NN 40/2026Narodne novine / Republic of Croatia · April 17, 2026Article 6: Amendment to 70 meters, measurement definition and entry into force
- Official presentation of the regulation changeMinistry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure · March 30, 2026Official classification of the extended shoreline privilege limit
