{"id":12004,"date":"2018-08-13T22:47:40","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T20:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sea-help.eu\/news-general\/buoy-fields-first-check\/"},"modified":"2018-08-13T22:47:40","modified_gmt":"2018-08-13T20:47:40","slug":"buoy-fields-first-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sea-help.eu\/en\/news-general\/buoy-fields-first-check\/","title":{"rendered":"Buoy fields in Croatia: <\/span><\/span>First check, then tie down"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buoy fields are actually a good thing: they protect the environment, especially the seabed, which is not additionally agitated by innumerable anchor operations in the high season. In addition, buoys should actually be safer than anchors that can break loose if used improperly. But the emphasis is on the word \u201cactually\u201d, because many buoy fields miss the required maintenance. Shells settle on the ropes and affect their stability. Bended eyelets of the floating body act just as unconvinced as heavily rusted or no longer recognizable by algae growth welds.<\/p>\n

For this reason, SeaHelp, the nautical breakdown service, advises all skippers in the Adriatic region not to blindly trust the buoys, but rather to take a closer look at the situation under water. Trust is good, control is better.<\/p>\n

MOne should always keep this in mind when mooring to a buoy: If the rope tears or the float of the buoy breaks, the skipper can usually not respond fast enough to prevent the boat from going ashore. Who will pay for the damage? The buoy field operator or the ship hull? A regulatory gray area that is mostly at the skipper\u2019s expense. Therefore, it should always be checked whether the buoy can be trusted.<\/p>\n

A quick dip in the water creates clarity. It is more comfortable with an action cam such as a waterproof GoPro let down a bit on the grapple. The shots give a quick indication of the condition of the buoy. And sometimes it is simply the better decision to say \u201cno\u201d and go for the next marina.<\/p>\n