Legal frame Pravilnik o brodicama i jahtama NN 27/05 as amended, Glava X, arts 80–84.a; NN 13/20 art. 48(2)–(3) (18 m / 24 m substitution).
The table
| Yacht | Use and area | Master | Other required crew | Article |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 18 m | any use, areas I–II | voditelj brodice C | one crew member | 80 |
| ≤ 18 m | crewed charter, areas III–IV | voditelj brodice C | none | 81(1) |
| ≤ 18 m | private, or bareboat charter | voditelj brodice B may command | none | 81(2) |
| 18–24 m | any use, any area | zapovjednik jahte A | one crew with B | 82 |
| 24 m – 500 BT | any area | zapovjednik jahte B | one engine-room watch rating; one Basic Safety holder | 83 |
| > 500 BT | any area | zapovjednik broda do 3000 BT (merchant II/2) | engineer officer of the watch for ≥750 kW; two crew with emergency-procedures training | 84 |
From 24 m the master also holds Basic Safety, fire-fighting management and medical first aid. Every yacht master holds a radio certificate: SRC/VHF DSC level for an A1 station, GOC for A2–A4 (art. 84.a).
Reading the table
- The band is set by length up to 24 m, then by tonnage. A 26 m yacht of 150 GT sits in the B band. So does a 45 m yacht of 480 GT.
- Art. 83(3) gives some flexibility. If the yacht master B also holds a certificate for managing the propulsion plant, the engine rating may be left ashore. A second Basic Safety holder must sail in that post.
- There is no ceiling above 500 BT. Art. 84 names the merchant master "up to 3000 BT" for any yacht over 500 BT and nothing higher. How the Ministry treats a 4,000 GT yacht was not confirmed. Expect a matching merchant CoC to be required.
- Minimum means minimum. These are safe-manning floors. Flag surveys, MLC hours of rest from 500 GT and the owner's insurer will usually push the real crew list well above them.
Who checks, and what it costs
Harbour master inspectors check crew lists at sea and in port. Sailing without the required qualified crew is a fine of HRK 5,000–50,000 (≈ €663.61–6,636.14, converted at 7.53450) under the Maritime Code (art. 1001).
Worked check
Take a 30 m, 220 GT Croatian-flag yacht chartered with crew in area III, with an A1 radio station.
- Length over 24 m and tonnage under 500 BT puts it under art. 83.
- The master needs zapovjednik jahte B, plus Basic Safety, fire-fighting management, medical first aid and an SRC.
- Crew needs one engine-room watch rating (or a second Basic Safety holder if the master holds the engine certificate) and one Basic Safety holder.
That is a legal minimum of three. A 30 m charter yacht will normally sail with five or six.
CAUTION — Foreign flag, foreign rules This table is for the Croatian flag. A Maltese or Cayman yacht in Croatia is manned under its flag's rules. That holds even when it charters there, since NN 42/17 art. 8 refers to flag-state minimum crew. See Malta and Red Ensign Flag Endorsements.