Changes to Maritime Legislation, Beach Concessions Without Tender, Mini Legalizations

The proposal for a new law on maritime property and seaports provides that hotel and campsite owners will be able to obtain a concession for the beach next to their facilities upon request, that is, without a tender, it was learned on Tuesday from the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, which is preparing or has already drafted a total of three legislative proposals that will fundamentally change the current maritime legislation.

In addition to the proposal for a new law on maritime property and seaports, there is also a law on port captaincies, which is in parliamentary procedure, and a law on amendments to the Maritime Code.

As it is learned, the proposal of the law on maritime property and seaports, which should be presented in the parliamentary benches by the end of the year, will enable that hospitality-tourism facilities that have an infrastructural connection with part of the maritime property, the concession on maritime property is issued upon request, without a tender.

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In the case of camps, since it involves a large area, only one part of the beach will be able to be obtained upon request, while the rest will go to tender.

The new law will also stipulate that on each beach one part must be open, without any activity. Counties will still retain the most authority over maritime property, and there will also be an increase in supervision and inspections.

Money from permits and concessions will be distributed so that 35 percent goes to counties and local self-government units, 20 percent to the budget, and 10 percent to the Maritime Property Fund. Revenue from concessions on maritime property outside ports amounts to about 150 million kuna annually.

Regarding increased inspection supervision of maritime property, the system, in which there are currently only five hydroengineering inspectors across the entire Adriatic, all of whom are seafarers, will include lawyers, economists, and other experts. After this law is passed, there will be at least 30 inspectors in the system.

Mini legalization of about a thousand facilities

The proposed law also provides for mini legalization – it is estimated that about a thousand facilities on maritime property in the Adriatic, such as piers, “mandrača,” quays will be subjected to this, while holiday homes and similar facilities on maritime property will not be legalized but demolished, the Ministry notes.

The law, whose main goal is to expedite the process of determining the status and boundaries of maritime property and registering maritime property, will decentralize the authority for determining the boundaries of maritime property in such a way that it will be transferred to units of regional self-government, the Ministry says.

The deadline for determining the boundary of maritime property for the entire coast will be three years. An urgent procedure for registering maritime property in land registries will also be prescribed for a period of 30 days.

As for the law on port captaincies, some of the operational goals are to ensure the response of the Search and Rescue Service at sea within the “golden hour,” which should include the helicopter service. The principle of the golden hour currently functions relatively well in the northern parts of the coast, but less so in the south, the Ministry says. Therefore, the fleet of port captaincies will be renewed with 15 new search and rescue boats.

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The legislative proposal also provides for the digitization of all services in the next three years (submission and resolution of requests electronically through public services), as well as resolving all matters of registering ships and yachts in international navigation within 72 hours. It will also enable simpler employment of seafarers and shipowners on land after the cessation of navigation service.

The law on amendments to the Maritime Code provides for a reduction in administrative burdens and simplification of procedures. A centralized electronic registry of ships is being introduced, and better regulation of nautical activities implies attracting large yachts to register in the Croatian registry and creating favorable conditions for longer stays in Croatia. It will also offer the possibility of yachts participating in the tonnage tax.

Social conditions for seafarers are improving, so those who spend 183 days a year at sea will meet the conditions for exemption from income tax for seafarers in international navigation. The amendments and adoption of three maritime laws should increase the competitiveness of maritime property, improve navigation safety and marine protection, and ensure effective management of maritime property, the relevant ministry emphasizes.