Italian psychosis in Croatia: that crew list mess. What to do

You are going to Croatia, read here and draw the appropriate consequences. It has been raging for some time on the web the catchphrase of the alleged obligation from this year onwards for Italians going to Croatia to present the crew list on exit, under penalty of a hefty fine. A hoax? We don’t know, but we have investigated the jungle of regulations to try to shed light on this issue, which is coming to light for the first time. With the usual Italian-style inconsistencies.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARRIVE AND LEAVE CROATIA

Everyone knows that. When you arrive in Croatia with a foreign boat you must inbound and outbound declare your passage through Croatian territory by giving details of the boat and crew on board. The Croatians are very well equipped, you always find near the dock a Police office or an attendant who on a centralized computerized register (unbelievable, here in Italy there is still no Single Register of registered boats!) enters the data. You pay a small fee and it’s done. Of course, when you leave Croatia, you have to declare leaving territorial waters.

WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IF YOU GO FROM ITALY TO CROATIA (OR OTHER COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE EU)

Starting with the case of the alleged fine to a yachtsman who had not gone (it is not known where) to declare that he wanted to go to Croatia by filling out the crew list (there is no form, the Croatians have it) without mentioning the countless mutually contradictory regulations, here is what logically should happen in the absence of an explanatory circular.

Theoretically, but only theoretically, you would have to go to a Border Police office (not a Harbor Master’s Office, which deals with boats, not people) and, identity papers in hand, you would have to declare the crew members expatriating to Croatia. Once back in Italy you should return to the Border Police office and declare that you have re-entered.

All of this is in implementation of legislation that has been in place since 1997. This is what happens if you travel by plane, train, or ship when the operator compiles a list of passengers available to the authorities for possible inspection. This is not the case, however, for motorists crossing the border where officers do not fill out any passenger documents, but only (sometimes) perform an identity check’.

But that’s not all, there is 2017 legislation that exempts pleasure boats for private use or for hire of up to 12 passengers from reporting to the Border Police by declaring expatriation. Therefore, in contradiction to what we have just told you. So what?

BASICALLY, WHAT TO DO?

The moral of this ugly mess? In our opinion, do as you have always done, go quietly to Croatia. In the remote and absurd case that some zealous border policeman (it can’t be a sailor from the Coast Guard or Guardia di Finanza who have no jurisdiction) asks you if you are going to Croatia, tell him that yes, you are going to Croatia and if he wants you can provide him with the crew list written on a piece of paper. Unless, as in some cases, they provide you with the form. As we read from your comments, someone has it. Better.

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