CENTRAL DALMATIA (ŠIBENIK, ŠIBENIK ARCHIPELAGO, KRKA ESTUARY, MURTER)

Šibenik: boating safety

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Šibenik lies in a sheltered bay reached from the open sea only through the narrow St Anthony (Sv. Ante) channel. Boats based here cruise the Šibenik archipelago (Zlarin, Prvić, Žirje), the Krka estuary up to Skradin, and Murter and the Kornati to the north-west.

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 Šibenik Harbour Master's Office (Lučka kapetanija Šibenik) is at Obala Franje Tuđmana 8. The Šibenik VTS sector works on VHF channels 14 and 60.

Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Croatia) · Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 102 ▾
mmpi.gov.hr (2026-10-14): “Obala Franje Tuđmana 8 , 22000 Šibenik”
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “Sektor ŠIBENIK VHF radijski kanali: Ch 14, Ch 60”

D-Marin Mandalina in Šibenik asks arriving boats to call it on VHF channel 17.

D-Marin Mandalina ▾
d-marin.com (2026-10-14): “Arrival to the Marina: Please contact us on VHF channel 17”

Weather

Split Radio broadcasts maritime safety information, including gale warnings and forecasts, in English and Croatian on VHF channels 07, 21, 23, 28, 81 and 84 at 05:45, 12:45, 19:45 and 00:45 UTC.

Plovput (Croatian coast radio service) · Plovput (Croatian coast radio service) ▾
plovput.hr (2026-10-14): “CRS Split Radio Ch 07, Ch 21, Ch 23, Ch 28, Ch 81, Ch 84 05:45 / 12:45 / 19:45 / 00:45”
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.”

Boats under 20 m may use the St Anthony channel into Šibenik at any time without permission, keeping to the right-hand side. Vessels of 20 m or more need clearance from Jadrija signal station, requested on VHF channel 9 ten minutes before reaching the channel entrance.

Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 66 · Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 66 ▾
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “Plovni objekt duljine manje od 20 metara može ploviti kanalom uvijek i bez dozvole, ploveći desnom stranom kanala.”
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “pozivajući »Signalna postaja Jadrija / Jadrija Station« na VHF radijskom kanalu VTS sektora Ch 9, i to prilikom namjeravanog uplovljavanja ili isplovljavanja iz luke Šibenik, 10 minuta prije dolaska broda pred ulaz u kanal.”

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.”

Hazards

In the St Anthony channel boats must not overtake (except in an emergency or for safe manoeuvring) or make damaging wash. Anchoring is banned in the channel and off its outer entrance.

Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 66 · Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia), NN 52/2025, Article 66 ▾
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “Plovni objekt, dok plovi kanalom, ne smije, osim u slučaju nužde ili sigurnog manevriranja, pretjecati drugi plovni objekt ili ploviti brzinom koja može izazvati valove koji mogu nanijeti štetu brodovima i drugim objektima u kanalu.”
narodne-novine.nn.hr (2026-10-14): “Zabranjeno je sidrenje plovnih objekata u kanalu i pred vanjskim ulazom u kanal”

Hospital and medical

Šibenik General Hospital (Opća bolnica Šibensko-kninske županije), Stjepana Radića 83, has a combined emergency admissions centre (OHBP).

Opća bolnica Šibensko-kninske županije · Opća bolnica Šibensko-kninske županije ▾
bolnica-sibenik.hr (2026-10-14): “Centar Objedinjenog bolničkog prijema - OHBP”
bolnica-sibenik.hr (2026-10-14): “Stjepana Radića 83 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska”

Frequently asked

Who do I call in an emergency at sea near Šibenik?

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 Šibenik?

The Šibenik Harbour Master's Office (Lučka kapetanija Šibenik) is at Obala Franje Tuđmana 8. The Šibenik VTS sector works on VHF channels 14 and 60.

Where do I get the marine forecast for Šibenik?

Split Radio broadcasts maritime safety information, including gale warnings and forecasts, in English and Croatian on VHF channels 07, 21, 23, 28, 81 and 84 at 05:45, 12:45, 19:45 and 00:45 UTC.

Read before you sail

Cold water shock and hypothermia: what to doPerson overboard: what to doEngine failure: what to do when you lose powerChartering in Croatia: licence & rules

Nearby destinations

Split 27 nmZadar and the Kornati 38 nmPula / Istria 113 nmDubrovnik 115 nmKotor 147 nmNaples / Amalfi Coast 189 nmElba / Tuscan Archipelago 248 nmCorfu 304 nm

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