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Boat maintenance as a means of protecting the sea and nautical tourism

marina brodovi
August 7, 2024

Croatia is one of the most popular destinations for nautical tourism in Europe, attracting thousands of visitors with its natural beauties: enchanting coastline, numerous islands, and crystal-clear sea. Ironically, the development of nautical tourism can endanger precisely those natural resources on which this tourism is based. Therefore, preserving natural beauty is not just a matter of environmental protection, but also a strategic investment in the future of nautical tourism in Croatia.

Ensuring the cleanliness and preservation of the marine environment enhances the experience of current tourists and lays the foundation for sustainable tourism in the future. One way to reduce the risk of pollution is through responsible vessel maintenance, thereby minimizing the potential for harmful environmental consequences. Below, we provide tips on how to maintain your boat to protect the sea.

Nautical tourism in the Adriatic and its pressures

Nautical tourism significantly contributes to the Croatian economy through revenues from boat rentals, marinas, and associated services and infrastructure. According to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, nautical tourism ports generated a total of 161 million euros in revenue without VAT in 2023, which is 12.1% more than in 2022. An increase was observed in all counties: Dubrovnik-Neretva by 19.6%, Zadar by 15.6%, Istria by 14.1%, Split-Dalmatia by 12.4%, Primorje-Gorski Kotar by 8.7%, and Šibenik-Knin by 8.3%. However, intense nautical activity also brings environmental risks, especially to sensitive marine ecosystems. The most common sources of pollution in nautical marinas are wastewater, boat fuel, lubricants, oily water, waste, boat damage, and minor vessel traffic accidents at sea (Jugović et al.: 2013). To reduce sources of pollution, we must maintain our vessels responsibly.

Author: Sonja Constantinou, Unsplash

Maintaining boat engines

Održavanje motora nosi najveći rizik od onečišćenja, jer uključuje rukovanje uljima, filterima i antifrizima. Autor skripte Bez traga – odgovorno ponašanje u nautičkom turizmu, koja je nastala u sklopu Cleaning Sailing Race edukativno-ekološke regate, skiper Mladen Glavić objasnio nam je kako iskorištena ulja i filtere treba pravilno zbrinuti, dok je pri odabiru antifriza važno koristiti propilen glikol, koji je netoksičan, umjesto toksičnog etilen glikola. Također, pri servisu treba obrisati kaljužu kako tekućine servisa ne bi završile u moru.

Engine maintenance carries the highest risk of pollution, as it involves handling oils, filters, and antifreeze. The author of the script “Bez traga – odgovorno ponašanje u nautičkom turizmu” (“Leave No Trace – Responsible Behavior in Nautical Tourism”), created as part of the Cleaning Sailing Race educational-ecological regatta, skipper Mladen Glavić, explained that used oils and filters should be properly disposed of, and when choosing antifreeze, it is important to use propylene glycol, which is non-toxic, instead of toxic ethylene glycol. Additionally, during servicing, the bilge should be wiped clean to prevent service fluids from ending up in the sea.

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Boat batteries

Boat batteries should be kept dry and clean to avoid corrosion and ensure they last as long as possible. Changing batteries also requires careful disposal. Most waste batteries, according to the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, are classified as hazardous waste because they contain dangerous substances, particularly mercury, lead, cadmium, and may also contain nickel, zinc, copper, manganese, lithium, making them risky for the environment. In Croatia, the waste battery and accumulator management system has been in place since 2007, organized by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund in accordance with the Waste Management Act. You can hand over old batteries and accumulators when purchasing new ones to receive an additional discount or hand them over to authorized collectors. If you spend a lot of time at sea as a sailor, you might also explore solar charging of boat batteries, made possible by advancements in solar technology.

Maintaining the hull with coatings

It is well known that fouling, or the accumulation of organisms on submerged bodies, slows down navigation and increases fuel consumption and exhaust gas concentrations. In the fight against fouling, various chemicals and coatings are often used, which, in addition to negatively affecting fouling organisms, also negatively affect all other organisms in the marine environment. It has been observed that in enclosed waters with high vessel presence and traffic, such as marinas, there is a change in the composition of plant and animal communities and a decrease in the number of organisms, i.e., biomass, and prolonged exposure to such impacts leads to a disruption of the natural balance in the polluted area (Ujčić: 2017).

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Biocidal coatings effectively destroy fouling organisms but also harm the marine ecosystem. Most traditional biocides are copper-based, which is extremely toxic to plant and animal life. From an environmental protection standpoint, non-biocidal coatings that do not release biocides into the marine environment are an alternative. So-called foul-release coatings use smooth surface technology to prevent fouling and are suitable for high-speed or high-activity vessels. Although the initial cost of such coatings is significantly higher, it is justified for such vessels due to the self-cleaning effect and longer duration (Juraga et al.: 2007).

Boat cleaning

Boat cleaning often takes place in marinas where cleaning agents often end up directly in the sea. Try to use non-toxic and biodegradable products, which are not petroleum-based and do not contain microplastics, when cleaning. Also, explore new mechanical cleaning technologies, such as steam cleaning or mechanical brushes, which are already available in our market.

Preventing fuel spills into the sea

Gas stations are often located near marinas, settlements, and beaches, so fuel spills are a serious problem. Responsible behavior includes careful refueling without a hands-free clip. Do not overfill the tank, and use refueling equipment in calm conditions to avoid spills. Always have a cloth on hand to wipe parts of the vessel that have been spilled on after refueling.

If you notice sea pollution or an accident that could cause sea pollution, immediately notify the relevant authorities. In the article “Have you noticed sea pollution? Here’s who you can contact” we describe in more detail how to report sea pollution.

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Preserving Croatia’s natural beauty is not only an ecological duty of all citizens but also a crucial factor for the long-term sustainability and development of nautical tourism. By anchoring, navigating, and maintaining boats responsibly, we can all contribute to preserving the marine ecosystem. Therefore, no matter where you anchor, choose responsible behavior and contribute to making the Adriatic Sea full of life.

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