Adriatic Sea Nautical Charts: Marine Charts for Sailing in Italy, Croatia and the Eastern Mediterranean

Introduction

The Adriatic Sea is one of the Mediterranean's major sailing areas. Located between the Italian Peninsula and the Balkans, it extends from the Gulf of Venice in the north to the Strait of Otranto in the south, where it connects with the Ionian Sea. It borders six countries: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania.

An Adriatic Sea nautical chart is essential for planning a cruise, a passage between Italy and Croatia, coastal navigation or a harbour approach. This region is characterised by diverse coastal landscapes, numerous archipelagos, narrow channels and extensive recreational boating activity.

Nautic Way Maritime Bookshop offers nautical chart coverage of the entire Adriatic basin, including charts published by SHOM, Admiralty, Imray, NV Charts and the Croatian Hydrographic Institute (HHI).

Main areas covered by Adriatic Sea nautical charts

Northern Adriatic: Venice, Trieste and Istria

The northern Adriatic includes the Gulf of Venice, the Gulf of Trieste and the Istrian Peninsula.

Nautical charts cover Venice, Chioggia, Ravenna, Trieste, Koper, Piran, Pula and Rovinj.

This region has distinctive hydrographic characteristics, including relatively shallow waters, numerous lagoons and major port facilities.

Approaches to Venice require detailed nautical charts showing marked channels, water depths and restricted areas. Further east, the Slovenian and Croatian coastlines offer numerous opportunities for coastal cruising.

Central Adriatic: Zadar, Split and the Dalmatian Islands

The central Adriatic is one of Europe's most popular recreational sailing destinations.

Nautical charts of Croatia cover Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Trogir, Hvar and the Dalmatian archipelagos.

This coastline features a succession of islands, channels, bays and anchorages. Dugi Otok, the Kornati Islands, Brač, Hvar and Vis are among the most popular sailing destinations.

Kornati National Park has a particularly intricate coastline. Navigating between its numerous islands requires large-scale nautical charts to identify passages, depths and isolated hazards.

On the Italian coast, charts also cover Ancona, Pesaro, Pescara and the approaches to the main ports of the central Adriatic.

Southern Adriatic: Dubrovnik, Montenegro and Albania

Further south, nautical charts cover Dubrovnik, the Elaphiti Islands, Mljet and Korčula, as well as the coastlines of Montenegro and Albania.

The Bay of Kotor is one of the most distinctive areas of the Montenegrin coastline. This extensive bay consists of several basins connected by relatively narrow passages.

Detailed nautical charts are useful for planning approaches to Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi, Budva and Bar.

Further south, the Albanian coastline includes Durrës, Vlorë and Sarandë.

The Strait of Otranto marks the transition between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. It is an important passage for vessels travelling between Italy, Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.

What information is shown on an Adriatic Sea nautical chart?

An Adriatic nautical chart displays the hydrographic and geographical information required for passage planning and navigation.

Depending on its scale, it can identify:

• Soundings and depth contours.

• Rocks, reefs, shoals and wrecks.

• Lighthouses, navigation lights, buoys and beacons.

• Navigation channels and passages between islands.

• Harbours, marinas and anchorage areas.

• Submarine cables and pipelines.

• Restricted areas and marine protected areas.

• Traffic separation schemes.

• Isolated dangers and navigational obstacles.

Accurate nautical charting is particularly important along the Croatian coastline, where the numerous islands and channels require careful interpretation of depths and navigation marks.

Winds and navigational characteristics of the Adriatic Sea

Navigation in the Adriatic Sea is strongly influenced by regional weather conditions.

The Bora is a generally cold, dry wind blowing from the northeast. It can be particularly violent along the Croatian coastline, especially in the Kvarner Gulf and below the coastal mountains.

The Sirocco, known as the Jugo in Croatia, generally blows from the southeast. It can produce rough seas and make certain passages challenging.

The Maestral, a northwesterly wind frequently experienced during summer, often accompanies coastal sailing.

Passage planning should therefore combine nautical charts with weather forecasts, tidal and current information, and knowledge of available sheltered anchorages and harbours.

Major publishers of Adriatic Sea nautical charts

Admiralty: international nautical chart coverage

Admiralty charts, published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), provide extensive coverage of the Adriatic basin.

They are used for commercial shipping, international passages, harbour approaches and recreational sailing.

The Admiralty catalogue includes general, coastal and harbour charts covering areas such as Venice, Trieste, Split, Dubrovnik and the Strait of Otranto.

Imray: nautical charts for recreational sailing

Imray offers nautical charts particularly suited to sailing yachts and coastal navigation.

Its charts cover different areas of the Adriatic, including the Italian coastline, Croatian islands, Montenegro and the approaches to the Ionian Sea.

Imray chart M30, for example, covers the Southern Adriatic and Ionian Sea, including the area from Dubrovnik to Corfu and Sicily.

HHI: Croatian Hydrographic Institute

The Croatian Hydrographic Institute (Hrvatski Hidrografski Institut, HHI) is Croatia's official hydrographic office.

It produces paper and electronic nautical charts covering Croatian waters, islands, harbours and navigation channels.

Its catalogue includes general charts of the Adriatic Sea, coastal charts, approach charts and harbour plans.

SHOM and NV Charts

The French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) provides general nautical charts covering the Mediterranean and certain areas of the Adriatic Sea.

NV Charts offers nautical chart atlases designed for recreational sailing, including coverage of northern, central and southern Croatia, as well as Montenegro.

Paper or digital nautical charts for sailing in the Adriatic?

Paper nautical charts allow sailors to plan an itinerary, plot a route and visualise the different stages of a cruise.

They also provide a navigation reference independent of electronic equipment.

Digital nautical charts can be used with compatible navigation software, GPS chartplotters or ECDIS systems.

Raster charts reproduce the appearance of traditional paper charts, while vector charts allow users to access individual cartographic objects and, depending on the equipment, configure navigation alerts.

Navionics and C-MAP charting systems are also widely used on recreational GPS chartplotters.

How to choose the right Adriatic nautical chart scale

The appropriate chart scale depends on the planned voyage.

A general nautical chart is suitable for planning a passage between Ancona and Split or between Bari and Dubrovnik.

A coastal chart is better suited to a cruise between Zadar and Šibenik or along the Istrian Peninsula.

Detailed nautical charts and harbour plans provide the information required to study approaches to Venice, Split, Dubrovnik or Kotor.

When navigating between the Croatian islands, several large-scale charts may be necessary to accurately represent channels, shoals and anchorages.

Conclusion

An Adriatic Sea nautical chart is an essential resource for planning navigation between Italy and the Balkan coastline.

From the Gulf of Venice to the Strait of Otranto, from Istria to the Dalmatian Islands, and from Dubrovnik to the Bay of Kotor, each area has its own geographical and navigational characteristics.

Admiralty, Imray, HHI, SHOM and NV Charts offer complementary nautical chart coverage suitable for coastal navigation, offshore passages and harbour approaches.

The choice of chart depends primarily on the sailing area, required scale and preferred format. Up-to-date nautical charts, supplemented by weather forecasts and local navigational information, remain essential for planning a passage in the Adriatic Sea.

FAQ – Adriatic Sea Nautical Charts

Which nautical chart should I choose for sailing in the Adriatic Sea?

The choice depends on the sailing area and required scale. Admiralty provides extensive international coverage, HHI produces official Croatian nautical charts, while Imray and NV Charts offer charting products particularly suited to recreational sailing.

Which nautical chart should I use for sailing in Croatia?

HHI, Admiralty, Imray and NV Charts cover the main areas of the Croatian coastline, including Istria, the Kvarner Gulf, the Dalmatian Islands and the approaches to Dubrovnik. Detailed nautical charts are particularly important when navigating between islands.

Which nautical chart should I use for the Kornati Islands?

The Kornati Islands require large-scale nautical charts showing navigation channels, shoals, isolated dangers and anchorage areas. Official HHI charts and recreational nautical charting products provide coverage of this region.

Which nautical chart should I use to cross the Adriatic between Italy and Croatia?

A passage between Ancona and Split, or between Bari and Dubrovnik, requires a nautical chart covering the entire route, supplemented by detailed charts for coastal and harbour approaches.

Which nautical chart should I use for sailing in Montenegro?

Charts covering the Montenegrin coastline allow sailors to plan approaches to Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor, Budva and Bar. Detailed charts are particularly useful for navigating within the Bay of Kotor.

What is the difference between Admiralty and Imray nautical charts?

Admiralty publishes official hydrographic charts designed for various types of navigation. Imray produces nautical charts based on official hydrographic data, with a presentation and additional information particularly suited to recreational sailors.

What scale should I choose for an Adriatic Sea nautical chart?

A small-scale chart is suitable for planning offshore passages and viewing large geographical areas. A large-scale chart provides more detail for coastal navigation, passages between islands and harbour approaches.

Do Adriatic nautical charts show anchorage areas?

Depending on their scale, nautical charts show anchorage areas, water depths, seabed characteristics and certain restrictions. However, local regulations should always be checked, particularly in national parks and marine protected areas.