The Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia (HHI) and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure have jointly prepared an information leaflet entitled "Official nautical charts and publications in the Republic of Croatia". The initiative aims to inform mariners, boat skippers, vessel owners, and the wider maritime community of the paramount importance of utilising official, updated nautical charts and publications as the absolute cornerstone of safe navigation.
The information leaflet was officially presented to the public on 21 October 2026 at the 28th Biograd Boat Show. The launch took place during a professional presentation held by the HHI, entitled "Official hydrographic data as the foundation of safe navigation – from nautical charts to next-generation S-100 digital navigation", delivered by the HHI Director, Vinka Kolić Bubić.
Information leaflet – official nautical charts and publications
In a clear and accessible manner, the leaflet outlines the statutory obligation to carry and use appropriate official, updated nautical charts and publications, determined by the vessel's class, intended purpose, and operational area, in strict compliance with applicable maritime regulations.
Crucially, it emphasises the distinction between official navigational products and non-official, derivative commercial products. While the latter may serve as useful secondary aids to navigation, they do not substitute official nautical charts and publications where the carriage of such tools is legally mandated.
Furthermore, the leaflet provides guidance on the regular correction and updating of charts and publications via Notices to Mariners, inspections, and the purchase of official navigational products through authorised HHI distributors.
To facilitate seamless access to these resources, QR codes are embedded within the leaflet, directing users straight to procurement channels, Notices to Mariners, and respective updates.
The core message of the leaflet reads:
SAFE NAVIGATION IS BUILT UPON OFFICIAL, UPDATED NAUTICAL CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS.
Official hydrographic data – the foundation for port design, construction, and safety
During the presentation, particular emphasis was placed on the necessity of employing official hydrographic and oceanographic data when drafting spatial planning, technical, and engineering documentation for coastal and marine developments, in accordance with valid legislation.
Official hydrographic data provide an impeccable, robust foundation for the design, construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of ports, harbour structures, and other marine installations. Consequently, it plays an indispensable role in safeguarding navigation, human life at sea, and the marine environment.
The presentation highlighted the legal obligation to conduct regular hydrographic surveys of port areas and other concessioned marine zones. Pursuant to Article 11a of the Hydrographic Activity Act, port authorities (excluding military ports) are legally required to submit an official hydrographic survey of the entire port area to the HHI at least once every five years, subject to any alternative timeframe prescribed by the competent Harbour Master’s Office, up to a maximum of ten years.
Attention was also drawn to the mandatory submission of a certified as-built hydrographic survey upon completion of construction or reconstruction works at sea. This applies to any developments requiring relevant spatial planning or building permits under specific regulations and must be submitted prior to the commencement of operations or the issuance of an occupancy permit.
These statutory requirements are vital to ensure that physical alterations within the marine environment are promptly stored and published in official nautical charts and publications, thereby maintaining their currency and directly enhancing the safety of navigation.
Next-generation digital navigation – the S-100 standard
The presentation also explored the transformative capabilities introduced by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) S-100 standard, which underpins the next generation of digital maritime navigation.
Special focus was directed towards next-generation Electronic Navigational Charts (S-101) and the seamless integration of diverse marine data streams. These include bathymetry (S-102), water levels (S-104), surface currents (S-111), and navigational warnings (S-124).
The application of the S-100 standard will vastly improve the correlation and display of maritime information, enabling safer, swifter, and more efficient navigational decision-making.
Continuous engagement with the maritime community
The Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia remains steadfastly committed to its ongoing programme of informing and educating the maritime sector on the critical value of official hydrographic data, the systematic updating of charts and publications, and the thorough, responsible passage planning of voyages.
This joint information leaflet by the HHI and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure stands as a core component of these efforts, seeking to elevate awareness surrounding maritime safety and the mandatory use of official navigational products.
The information leaflet "Official nautical charts and publications in the Republic of Croatia" is available for review and download as an enclosure to this announcement.