Cablegate: Recreational Skippers Need License to Sail Croatian Flagged

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UNCLAS ZAGREB 01300

SIPDIS
R 260801Z OCT 06

FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6843

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001300

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT CASC HR
SUBJECT: RECREATIONAL SKIPPERS NEED LICENSE TO SAIL CROATIAN FLAGGED
BOATS

1. SUMMARY. The Government of Croatia adopted a law (effective Jan.
1, 2006) requiring all recreational skippers chartering Croatian
flagged vessels to have a certificate of competence. Under the law,
the Ministry of Sea, Tourism and Transport will only recognize
licenses issued by national authorities of other states. As no such
national licensing regime exists in the U.S., Americans wishing to
charter and pilot a Croatian-flagged vessel may be required to pass
a certification test at the Ministry in Zagreb or a designated
harbormaster's office on the coast. Post will add this information
to the Zagreb Consular Information Sheet. END SUMMARY

2. The Croatian Ministry of Sea, Tourism and Transport contacted
post in late 2005 to provide information on a new law requiring
recreational skippers to have certificates of competence in order to
pilot Croatian-flagged crafts in Croatian waters. The Ministry
requested that post provide information and examples of equivalent
U.S. certificates. Post explained that there is no federal-level
licensing of recreational skippers in the U.S. Although some states
and private associations issue certificates of competency, these are
not widely held among American boaters.

3. After reviewing criteria for sailing certificates from two
private organizations (the US Sailing Association and the American
Sailing Association), an official from the Ministry of Sea, Tourism
and Transport told Econoff those certificates meet Croatia's
standards; however, because there is no U.S. federal agency that
oversees those associations, the Croatian government could not
accept them as the private organizations are not
federally-regulated.

4. Some states are now requiring boaters' licenses, but there is
still no federal agency overseeing the process. Econoff stressed
that tourists are allowed to use state-issued motor vehicle licenses
for 90 days, but the ministry official said under the new law, he
can't give the same consideration to state-issued boaters' licenses.
The Ministry official said he regrets there is no "competent US
authority" to sign an MOU regarding boater's licenses.

5. The Ministry official said tourists can be certified in Croatia
at harbormasters' offices in Pula, Rijeka, Senj, Zadar, Sibenik,
Split, Ploce and Dubrovnik, as well as at the ministry in Zagreb.
Candidates need to contact the harbormaster's office or the ministry
to schedule the test, but added the test will be administered only
to groups. The certification costs 850 kuna ($145) and is valid
indefinitely. A study guide is available and the test can be
administered in Croatian, English, German and Italian.

6. Econoff told the ministry officials this information would be
included in the Consular Information Sheet to advise U.S. tourists
to check with the chartering company or the Croatian government to
ensure they have the proper certificates in order to legally charter
a Croatian flagged vessel or to plan to take the certification test
at one of the designated sites.
BRADTKE

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