Legal frame MMPI page "Traganje i spašavanje" (read 1 Oct 2026); Ravnateljstvo civilne zaštite, "Broj 112" (read 1 Oct 2026); Policijska uprava splitsko-dalmatinska nautical leaflet (undated); Pomorski zakonik art. 1012; Pravilnik NN 42/17 arts 25–26; Pravilnik o brodicama i jahtama NN 27/05 arts 60–66.
Numbers to put on the chart table
| Number | What it reaches | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 195 | MRCC Rijeka, the national maritime search-and-rescue centre | Free, 24-hour watch |
| 112 | National emergency centre | Free, 24/7. Dispatches police, fire, ambulance, sea search and rescue and road help. Calls taken in English, German, Italian, Hungarian and Slovak. SMS possible |
| VHF 16 | Distress, urgency and safety | Watched by MRCC Rijeka, the harbour masters and Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik radio |
Both numbers were checked on the Ministry's search-and-rescue page and the Civil Protection Directorate's 112 page on 1 October 2026. The Split-Dalmatia police leaflet gives the same 195 and lists VHF 10 and 16.
The Ministry also publishes a free, multilingual nautical information app (nIS), which the police leaflet describes as able to alert the emergency services from any position, even without internet access.
How the SAR system is built
- Coordination: MRCC Rijeka runs the national centre.
- Sub-centres: the harbour master offices at Pula, Rijeka, Senj, Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Ploče and Dubrovnik.
- Coastal observation: branch offices, coastal radio stations, manned lighthouses and navy lookouts.
The Croatian SAR region runs from the internal waters and territorial sea out to the agreed lines with neighbouring states.
After the event
- Report any accident to the nearest harbour master. Failing to report is fined HRK 300–800 (≈ €39.82–106.18) under PZ art. 1012.
- On charter, the handover briefing must cover SAR and emergency numbers and the accident procedure (NN 42/17 arts 25–26).
- Expect an alcohol test. The limit is 0.5 g/kg for master and crew (PZ art. 134).
Where to train and sit the titles
- Courses for C and the yacht-master titles are run only by maritime schools (pomorska učilišta) holding a Ministry decision. Each decision is valid up to 3 years per site, and the school must have a commercially registered boat or yacht (arts 64–66).
- Exams are held before boards at the Ministry and the harbour master offices. Exams needing equipment take place at the school (arts 60–61).
- STCW courses (Basic Safety, fire-fighting, first aid, GOC) run at centres approved under the Pravilnik o zvanjima.
- No official list of schools was read for this guide. Ask the harbour master which schools currently hold approval for your title.
WARNING — No shortcut through online study No online course, including this one, counts towards the compulsory hours, the practical or any exam. For radio skills, see SRC/VHF. For COLREGs, use the COLREGs trainer.