Home / Boating abroad / Slovenia

Boating in Slovenia: licences, insurance and bathing zones

Boating in Slovenia is open to skippers with foreign licences, as long as the boat carries third party insurance that meets Slovenian law and stays out of the marked bathing zones. This page sums up what Slovenian regulations, the Slovenian Maritime Administration and the German automobile club ADAC publish.

Emergency+386 5 663 2112UKW 16[9]

Alcohol limit?check locally

Liability coverrequiredmin. EUR 210,000[3]

Licencehome licence valid[1]

1 The Maritime Administration marks bathing areas off the coast, 2 where navigating and anchoring are strictly banned. 3 Boats reach the shore only through the marked access corridor, where swimming is not allowed.

Using a foreign licence in Slovenia

If you obtained your certificate of competence abroad, Slovenia lets you skipper the type of boat that certificate covers.[1]
If the certificate is not issued in English or Italian, carry a translation into Slovenian, English or Italian on board. Check before you travel whether your licence counts as English in Slovenia.[1]
Without a foreign certificate you need a Slovenian one. Slovenian law exempts only rowing boats and sailing boats up to 7 m, while motorboats up to 7.35 kW and 7 m and jet skis require a shorter Slovenian test, from age 16.[1][2]
Slovenia sets a minimum age of 16 for boats up to 12 m and 18 for planing boats and boats over 12 m. Whether this also binds skippers with foreign licences is not expressly regulated in the Slovenian rules.[2]
According to ADAC, foreign skippers in Slovenia need whichever licence their home country requires for comparable waters.[10]

Compulsory third party insurance

The owner of any foreign boat entering Slovenian territorial or internal sea waters must hold valid liability insurance covering death, bodily injury and damage to the health of third parties.[3]
The legal minimum is EUR 210,000 per incident, regardless of how many people are harmed. Slovenian law adjusts this sum every five years in line with the European consumer price index, so check the current figure before you travel.[3]
The 3.7 kW engine threshold in the same law applies to boats registered in Slovenia; for foreign boats it sets no power limit.[3]
At sea the skipper carries the policy or another proof of cover and shows it to the Slovenian police, the harbour authority or inspectors on request.[3]
ADAC describes boat liability insurance in Slovenia only as strongly recommended. The Slovenian statute itself makes it compulsory for foreign boats.[3][10]

Documents on board

While under way in Slovenian waters, a foreign boat carries the documents its flag state requires.[4]
Add your certificate of competence, translated where needed, and proof of the insurance required by Slovenian law.[1][3]
According to ADAC you also need the boat papers and valid proof of registration in Slovenia. EU citizens can travel on an identity card or passport, and children need their own ID.[10]

Minimum equipment by boat size

Whatever the flag state requires, foreign boats in Slovenian waters must carry at least the equipment listed in the Slovenian regulation on boats.[4]
Up to 5 m: an anchor with at least 20 m of line or chain, three mooring lines totalling 30 m, two oars or other auxiliary propulsion, a bucket and bailer, plus navigation lights and shapes under the collision regulations.[4]
Open boats over 5 m and cabin boats up to 7 m: an anchor with 30 m of line or chain, three mooring lines totalling 40 m, auxiliary propulsion or a VHF GMDSS radio or three red parachute rockets, a bailer or hand pump, lights, three red hand flares, a compass and lifejackets for everyone while under way.[4]
Cabin boats over 7 m: an anchor with 40 m, three mooring lines totalling 45 m, a portable dry powder extinguisher, first aid kit, torch, tool kit, nautical publications and charts of the area, plus the radio or rockets, flares, compass and lifejackets. Check before you travel whether the Slovenian regulation has changed since 2018.[4]
For boats up to 6 m, ADAC lists for Slovenia lifejackets for all, a waterproof torch, a whistle or horn, an anchor with line or chain and a portable fire extinguisher.[10]

Bathing zones and water sports

Navigating and anchoring are strictly banned inside the bathing areas marked by the Slovenian Maritime Administration. Boats reach the shore through marked access corridors, where swimming is not allowed.[6]
Under the Slovenian Maritime Code, individuals face fines of EUR 400 to 5,000 for breaches.[6]
Swimmers may go out to the marked outer edge at managed Slovenian beaches and up to 150 m from shore at natural bathing spots. Check whether this 2001 rule still applies unchanged.[7]
In Slovenia, jet skis, water skis, motorised boards, windsurf and paddle boards without lights may only be used between sunrise and sunset and in safe weather.[5]

Towing a boat trailer in Slovenia

Under Art. 47 of the Slovenian traffic act, a vehicle up to 3.5 t towing a trailer may do up to 100 km/h on motorways and expressways; other rural roads keep the general 90 km/h limit and towns 50 km/h. The European Commission lists the same figures.[11][12][13]
The Slovenian e-vignette for vehicles up to 3,500 kg covers towing too, whatever the trailer weighs, and the trailer needs no vignette of its own; class 2A or 2B depends on the height above the first axle (1.30 m).[14]
A load may overhang the rear by no more than 1.5 m. From 1 m it must be marked with a red and white reflective striped panel, at least 25 x 25 cm for cars and light vehicles, plus a red light at night.[15][16]

MRCC and VTS Koper

The rescue coordination centre MRCC Koper is on +386 5 663 2112 or koper.mrcc@gov.si.[9]
VTS Koper is staffed around the clock on +386 5 663 2106 and +386 5 663 2107, and on VHF channel 69 with channel 72 as backup. Safety messages go out on channel 07.[8]
ADAC gives VHF channel 16, DSC channel 70 and +386 5 663 2106 for distress calls in Slovenia, while the Maritime Administration lists that number for VTS Koper. Confirm which number to call before you sail.[8][10]

In Slovenia, keep your licence with any translation, proof of insurance and the minimum kit for your boat size on board. Ask at your first port whether any fee applies to visiting boats.

NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.

Get a quote Check your trailer rig Trailer route planner

Questions

Can I use my foreign boating licence in Slovenia?

Yes, for the type of boat it covers. If it is not in English or Italian, carry a translation into Slovenian, English or Italian.

Is boat insurance compulsory in Slovenia?

For foreign boats entering Slovenian sea waters, yes: third party liability cover of at least EUR 210,000 per incident under Slovenian law.

Is there a boat vignette or cruising fee in Slovenia?

None is documented in the official Slovenian sources reviewed, and ADAC mentions only the road vignette. Ask at your first Slovenian port.

What is the drink limit for skippers in Slovenia?

No official limit for skippers was found in the Slovenian sources reviewed. The 0.5 per mille ADAC mentions refers to road traffic, so check before you travel.