Anyone who has been out and about in Croatia will be familiar with the scene: a yacht in the bay far too close to the beach, a planing craft cutting through the water too close to the coast, an anchor dropping onto sensitive seabed. From 2025, the rules in the area will be significantly stricter. For boats under 15 metres, a minimum distance of 50 metres must be maintained along the coast; for motorboats, personal watercraft and jet skis travelling at high speed, the minimum distance is generally 300 metres. Anchoring in natural bathing areas is also subject to stricter regulations. The New Croatian regulation and its implications for charter crews But it also shows that rules alone do not change behaviour on the water.
This is where the “Faust V” project comes in. The autonomous surface vessel is operated by Innovamare Technologies It was developed in Croatia and is designed to identify, document and report any irregularities to the relevant authorities.
What the drone boat from Croatia is supposed to be capable of
According to the developers, “Faust V” is a 2.1-metre-long, electrically powered platform equipped with AI-assisted analysis, lidar, sonar and hydroacoustic sensors. The vessel is designed to collect data in real time and transmit it via mobile networks, 5G or Starlink. Its intended tasks range from mapping the seabed to environmental monitoring and coastal surveillance. For practical surveillance in the Adriatic Sea, three functions are particularly relevant:
- Observing traffic: Cameras and lidar can detect movements, distances and potentially risky manoeuvres.
- Check mooring and safety areas: When combined with position data and stored geodata, it is possible to identify suspected incidents such as anchoring in protected areas or bathing zones.
- Documenting environmental conditions: Sensors and sonar can monitor water quality, rubbish on the surface or changes to the seabed.
“Faust V” is primarily intended to complement the work of the water police, port authorities and environmental monitoring bodies. Small autonomous vehicles can avoid long journeys and enable emergency services to focus on situations that actually require attention. Similar surveillance concepts are also being used in larger Water drones to document suspicious manoeuvres in Denmark.
The stage of development of the prototype
On 18 September 2026, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Rijeka reported that that “Faust V” was intended for monitoring maritime traffic, detecting unauthorised anchoring and excessive speed, scanning the seabed, and collecting surface litter. In January 2026, “Faust V”, together with an underwater ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), was deployed to monitor water quality at six locations in the municipality of Sali in Zadar County. The water samples were analysed at the Ruđer Bošković Institute’s laboratory.
Six cameras and a Starlink connection have now been added. This removes the previous limitation imposed by the range of a 5G network. The latest report from the University of Rijeka currently states that the battery has a running time of up to six hours.
Why Croatia, of all places?
During the peak season, charter fleets, excursion boats, local commercial vessels, bathers and water sports enthusiasts all converge in a confined space off the Croatian coast. It is particularly difficult to maintain control in popular bays. The YACHT’s sailing region report on the Kvarner describes, for example, party boats that sail right up to the bathing beach and anchor in seagrass beds. The Cruising report: around Krk reports on boats, some of which continue to moor close to natural bathing beaches – despite the new regulations.
An autonomous boat could assist with inspections. Instead of a patrol boat having to call at every bay on a regular basis, a sensor-equipped vessel could pre-select situations that appear suspicious: position, time, image data and measurement readings are recorded; the relevant authority then decides whether an inspection or a penalty is necessary. This is because a camera initially identifies a suspicion, not automatically a legally verifiable offence.
More on autonomous navigation at sea:
The rapid progress being made in the field of autonomous navigation is also demonstrated by the recent successful Transatlantic crossing by the robotic sailboat C-Star PC13.
Too much surveillance at sea?
The planned surveillance is the subject of heated debate in sailing forums. On the one hand, there is a consensus that reckless skippers must be held to account. On the other hand, nobody wants to be filmed whilst swimming in the bay. For the scheme to be accepted in the sailing area, the following applies: Anyone collecting data must first clearly stipulate which recordings will be stored, who will analyse them and for how long they will be retained. Technically, “Faust V” can help to respond more quickly to breaches of the rules. Legal and practical responsibility remains with the people who analyse the data and, where necessary, order measures to be taken. The crucial factor is whether the authorities translate the data into effective enforcement – and whether skippers can clearly see where the rules apply and why they are being enforced. If so, the technology could help to better protect bathers, seagrass beds and considerate crews.
Book recommendations
Coastal Guide to Croatia and Slovenia places Faust V’s technical perspective within the practical context of the sailing area. The volume covers the Croatian coast from Koper to Split and brings together recreational boating charts, information on harbours, anchorages, approach routes, weather and traffic regulations. It is particularly useful for crews where discussions about distances, swimming areas and anchoring in specific bays come into play when planning a cruise.
Rules for the prevention of collisions explains the international rules for the prevention of collisions, using illustrations, visual aids and concise summaries for use on board. The book adds a crucial point to the debate on autonomous vehicles: neither sensor technology nor software exempts unmanned systems or manned yachts from the basic rules of safe navigation and clear evasive manoeuvres.
Would you see an autonomous surveillance boat in busy Croatian bays as a useful aid to safety and environmental protection – or do your concerns about excessive monitoring on the water outweigh this?
Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel