Kalmeta said that the bill introduced the best solutions for navigation safety and environmental protection and that it guaranteed the competitiveness of Croatian shipping companies in relation to European countries.
The proposed Maritime Code also includes provisions governing the protection and control of the ecological and fisheries protection zone. On October 3 the government's coordinating body will start exercising control and protection of the zone, which covers about 30,000 square kilometres, and the country's internal waters, the minister announced.
Kalmeta said that the Code allowed foreign warships and nuclear-powered ships to enter Croatian internal waters as part of Croatia's aspirations to join NATO. As for international sea transport in Croatian waters, special navigation routes would be determined in consultation with Italy.
Navigation safety will be inspected by port authorities, while the Coastal Guard will be defined by a bill to be presented to Parliament in seven or eight months, the minister said.
The Maritime Code also contains a series of positive novelties ensuring a better status for domestic seamen, and Kalmeta said that they would no longer need to sail under foreign flags.
Opposition parties mainly expressed their reservations about the proposed Code. They praised the provisions protecting shipping companies and criticised those allowing foreign warships to enter Croatian territorial waters.
The debate on the bill will continue on Friday.