MPs welcomed provisions aimed at protecting shipping companies, but were unhappy with provisions allowing foreign war ships to enter Croatian waters.
Opposition MPs criticised the government because the draft maritime code does not regulate the issue of the coast guard, which they maintain is the only way to protect and control the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone in the Adriatic.
MPs of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union said the coast guard issue should be regulated with a separate law.
Replying to MPs' remarks that some provisions of the draft code are harmful for seamen because they are not subject to the Labour Act, the state secretary at the sea ministry, Branko Bacic, said the government would consider all remarks by the seamen's union before the draft code was read for the second time.