Croatia: The buoy fields at a glance

Sailors have had to wait a long time for a tool like this: All buoy fields published by the authorities are marked in red on a google maps map with precise GPS data. If you click on them, a window opens showing information on the operator of the field, contact details, number of buoys and mooring prices. The small programme can be found on the reader's private website here: http://www.wosamma.at/bojenfelder/map.php

The service is particularly pleasing, as the Croatian authorities announced around 20 new buoy fields so late this year (see YACHT 8/2011) that they are not all included in the new area guides on the market. According to Wolfgang Götzinger, the whole thing can also be used with smartphones that have integrated GPS so that your own position is displayed on the map - so everyone knows whether or not they are already in one of the 55 or so buoy fields that are subject to a charge. Because even if you anchor within the geographical boundaries of the field, you have to pay for it.

However, the limits of the programme must also be clearly stated: The map presentation is based on the list published shortly before Easter by the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure (available as an Excel document here: http://www.mmphi.hr ), which unfortunately is not really up to date. In concrete terms, this means that some buoy fields are missing from the list, and more will be added in the course of the year. Experience has shown that it is doubtful whether the list will then be continuously updated. In addition, the prices on the map are out of date. They are still the old prices from the list published by the Croatians in 2010, and they were already out of date last year. But once again: this is the fault of the Croatian authorities, who do not keep the list up to date, not that of Wolfgang Götzer!

Nevertheless, the tool is a very good orientation aid to see where which fields are located and how much the fee for a night at the buoy is, at least approximately. In 2010, experience showed that this ranged from 1 to around 2.5 euros per boat metre.