Croatia is one of the world’s leading destinations for nautical and charter tourism, yet until now there has been no scientifically grounded study on vessel emissions in this sector.
A new scientific study, conducted in cooperation between the Institute for Tourism, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, and the Green Sail organization, provides the first scientific insight into emissions from the charter fleet based on real operational data from vessels.
The research is based on data collected through the Green Sail Footprint Program in marinas in Šibenik-Knin County and Split-Dalmatia County, in collaboration with charter companies and skippers. The analysis covered data on fuel consumption, engine operating hours, and technical characteristics of sailing yachts, motor yachts, and catamarans ranging from 10 to 20 meters in length.
The results confirm that emissions increase with vessel size and type, with catamarans having a higher emissions footprint due to greater fuel consumption. Although they accounted for around one third of the sample, catamarans generated a disproportionately large share of total emissions, which is particularly important in the context of the rapid growth of this market segment.
Based on a sample of 160 vessels, the results were extrapolated to the total Croatian charter fleet of approximately 4,500 vessels, with estimated seasonal emissions of 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes of CO₂. This represents the first comprehensive assessment of emissions in the Croatian charter sector and highlights the importance of high-quality data as a foundation for the sustainable development of nautical tourism.
The study demonstrates how collaboration between science and industry can provide scientifically sound and reliable data essential for implementing effective policies and enabling a smart transition toward more responsible and long-term sustainable nautical tourism.
For more details, see the full scientific study at the following link:
https://brodogradnja.fsb.hr/vol-77-no-3-77305/