ISTRIA (PULA, BRIJUNI, ROVINJ, MEDULIN, KVARNER APPROACHES)

Pula / Istria: boating safety

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Pula, at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, is the main charter base for the northern Adriatic. Typical trips go along the Istrian coast to Rovinj, to the Brijuni National Park, and across the Kvarner Gulf to Cres and Lošinj.

LIFE IN DANGER AT SEA
Call 195
Call MRCC Rijeka on 195. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF 16, or DSC on channel 70.

Croatia: all rescue numbers → On the rescue map → Print an emergency card →

Harbour and marinas

The Pula Harbour Master's Office (Lučka kapetanija Pula) is at Riva 18. It runs a 24-hour duty desk for vessel traffic, search and rescue. Harbour master's offices in Croatia are called directly on VHF channel 10.

Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia) · Istria Tourist Board ▾
mmpi.gov.hr (2026-10-14): “Riva 18, 52100 Pula”
istra.hr (2026-10-14): “For a direct call to a harbor master’s office, the channel 10 is used.”

ACI Marina Pula listens on VHF channel 17. The Brijuni National Park port is called on VHF channel 9.

ACI marina Pula · Brijuni National Park ▾
aci-marinas.com (2026-10-14): “ACI marina Pula Tel: +385 (0) 98 398 837 UHF/VHF channel 17”
np-brijuni.hr (2026-10-14): “anchoring in the authorized anchorage zone in front of the port of Veliki Brijun. Radio contact, via VHF channel 9”

Weather

Rijeka Radio broadcasts maritime safety information for the northern Adriatic, including gale warnings and forecasts, in English and Croatian on VHF channels 04, 19, 20, 23, 24, 81 and 85 at 05:30, 12:30, 19:30 and 00:30 UTC.

Plovput (Croatian coast radio service) · Plovput (Croatian coast radio service) ▾
plovput.hr (2026-10-14): “CRS Rijeka Radio Ch 04, Ch 19, Ch 20, Ch 23, Ch 24, Ch 81, Ch 85 05:30 / 12:30 / 19:30 / 00:30”
plovput.hr (2026-10-14): “Weather reports include warnings about gales, synoptic data and weather forecasts for mariners.”

Local rules

Within 300 m of the coast, in narrow channels and on approaches to harbours and anchorages, all vessels must keep a speed of no more than 8 knots.

Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 50 ▾
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “U području do 300 m od obale, u uskim kanalima, na prilazima luka i sidrišta svi plovni objekti dužni su ploviti posebnom pažnjom brzinom ne većom od 8 čvorova”

Anchoring is banned closer than 150 m to the shore of a natural beach.

Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 53 ▾
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “na udaljenosti manjoj od 150 metara od obale prirodnog kupališta.”

In Brijuni National Park, boats may berth only in the port of Veli Brijun and anchor only in ports and mooring sites. They may not stop between the islands of Jerolim and Veli Brijun.

Brijuni National Park · Brijuni National Park ▾
np-brijuni.hr (2026-10-14): “Vessels can be stationed or berthed only in the port of Veli Brijun. Stationing or anchoring vessels within the National Park is only allowed in ports and mooring sites.”
np-brijuni.hr (2026-10-14): “Vessels are only allowed to use the waterway and may not make stops between the islands of Jerolim and Veli Brijun”

A foreign boat or yacht arriving from abroad must go by the shortest route to a port open to international traffic and buy a vignette. It may not anchor before it has the vignette, except in force majeure, which must be reported to the nearest harbour master's office.

Government of the Republic of Croatia (gov.hr) · Government of the Republic of Croatia (gov.hr) ▾
gov.hr (2026-10-14): “Strana brodica i jahta koja dolazi iz inozemstva dužna je najkraćim putem uploviti u luku otvorenu za međunarodni promet i ishoditi vinjetu.”
gov.hr (2026-10-14): “Zabranjeno je sidrenje na sidrištima stranim plovilima prije ishođenja vinjete osim u slučaju više sile kada o tome treba izvijestiti najbližu lučku kapetaniju.”

Hospital and medical

Pula General Hospital (Opća bolnica Pula), Santoriova 24a, has a hospital emergency department (Hitni bolnički prijem).

Opća bolnica Pula · Opća bolnica Pula ▾
obpula.hr (2026-10-14): “Tel (052) 376-000 , Adresa: Santoriova 24a”
obpula.hr (2026-10-14): “Hitni bolnički prijem”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Pula / Istria?

Call MRCC Rijeka on 195. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.

How do I contact the harbour in Pula / Istria?

The Pula Harbour Master's Office (Lučka kapetanija Pula) is at Riva 18. It runs a 24-hour duty desk for vessel traffic, search and rescue. Harbour master's offices in Croatia are called directly on VHF channel 10.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Pula / Istria?

Rijeka Radio broadcasts maritime safety information for the northern Adriatic, including gale warnings and forecasts, in English and Croatian on VHF channels 04, 19, 20, 23, 24, 81 and 85 at 05:30, 12:30, 19:30 and 00:30 UTC.

Read before you sail

Nearby destinations

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