If you’re sailing into the popular bay of Vinišće west of Trogir this summer, you may be in for a surprise: while anchoring there was free for decades, harbour authority staff are now collecting anchoring fees – straight from a rigid inflatable boat. After numerous skippers reported the new charges in recent weeks, SeaHelp has now obtained both the relevant fee schedule of the Split-Dalmatia harbour authority and several original receipts. They show that the fees are based on an existing tariff regulation – even though many boaters were previously unaware of it.
Many boaters are asking themselves: is it even legal to charge fees for anchoring there? According to consistent statements from the Lučka uprava Splitsko-dalmatinske županije (Harbour Authority of the Split-Dalmatia County) – confirmed by SeaHelp – the fees are not collected by a private operator, but by the responsible harbour authority. This is supported, among other things, by the fact that the inspection boat carries the harbour authority’s registration marking (ST 295715).
Is this legal?
Yes. The basis is the Pravilnik o lučkim pristojbama (Fee Schedule of the Split-Dalmatia Harbour Authority) from 2023. In it, Article 2 defines a harbour anchorage as a designated part of the sea area for safe anchoring, which may – but does not have to – be equipped with mooring facilities.
Article 5 regulates the amount of the fees. If a vessel uses such a harbour anchorage, the regular berthing fee is reduced: by 30 percent if mooring facilities are available, or by 50 percent if the vessel is anchoring only. In addition, an indirect waste fee of one percent is charged.
According to Article 8 of the fee schedule, Vinišće belongs to harbour category III. The applicable berthing fees for this category are set out in Table IX of the regulation.
“This means there is a clear tariff basis for the anchoring fees currently being charged in Vinišće,” explains Denis Lipovac of SeaHelp Adria. “The amount depends on the boat’s length and the respective harbour category.”
What does anchoring actually cost?
SeaHelp has now obtained several receipts from the harbour authority. They show how the fees are calculated in practice.
For a 10-metre boat, for example, a regular berthing fee of 30 euros was initially applied. Since the boat was anchoring only, this amount was reduced by 50 percent under Article 5 of the fee schedule, to 15 euros. Including the one-percent waste fee, a final total of 15.15 euros was charged.
For a yacht 14.02 metres long, the regular berthing fee came to 42.06 euros. After the mandatory 50 percent discount, 21.03 euros remained. Including the waste fee, this resulted in a final amount of 21.24 euros.
“The receipts we have received confirm that the fees are calculated in accordance with the tariff regulation,” explains Denis Lipovac.
Who has to pay?
According to the harbour authority, the skipper or operator of the boat is generally liable to pay as soon as an officially designated harbour anchorage is used.
It makes no difference whether the vessel is anchoring only or also using a mooring in addition. What matters is solely the use of the designated anchoring area. Differences arise only in the amount of the fee.
What happens if you don’t pay?
This question remains unresolved. According to SeaHelp, no legal provision could so far be found from which a specific fine for non-payment of the anchoring fee in Vinišće could be derived.
Some skippers do report having been told that the harbour supervisory authority or the police would be called in if they refused to pay. However, a clear penalty regulation could not be verified so far.
“To the best of our current knowledge, there is no explicitly regulated fine amount. However, administrative proceedings for a violation of the port regulations would be possible,” says Denis Lipovac.
Will more anchoring bays become subject to fees in future?
Much suggests so. Back in 2024, the Split-Dalmatia County published its plan rasporeda nautičkih sidrišta Splitsko-dalmatinske županije, in which numerous anchoring bays are designated as future managed anchoring areas. Vinišće is just one of them.
Study from 2024Study from 2024© More i Krš
Observers of the Croatian nautical industry therefore expect that further, previously free anchoring bays could gradually become subject to fees as well.
What skippers should keep in mind
- Fees may only be collected by staff of the responsible harbour authority
- A receipt should always be requested. It should be stamped and clearly identify the issuer
- Anyone in doubt about the amount of the fee can ask to see the underlying fee schedule
- In case of uncertainty, it is also advisable to check the staff member’s official ID and authority affiliation.
