Useful Information

PASMANSKI KANAL

PASMANSKI KANAL, channel between the mainland and the island of Pasman. In its SE part the channel is narrow and shallow with many islets and shoals. The islets of Komornik, Babac, Frmic, Planac and Sv Katarina form two passages in this part of the channel the western and the eastern navigable for ships drawing up to 6 metres.

The bora is much stronger in Pasmanski kanal than in Zadarski kanal, reaching gale force in the winter. The sirocco is also strong and particularly unpleasant with the current coming from the opposite direction. The SW wind changes direction in the channel and blows from S or SSE. The north-westerlies can also be very strong and cause high waves, especially in the area N of the islet of Bisage. The NW current (high tide) attains a rate of 12.5 knots in the channel, and the SE current (low tide) a rate of 12 knots. The current attains greatest strength in the narrowest part of the channel and off the villages of Turanj and Sv. Filip i Jakov. Southerly winds influence the direction of the current and often cause very strong eddies.

The ordinance on the navigation of ships (up to 50 GRT) and boats through Pasmanski kanal determines its limits and two fairways.

The limits of Pasmanski kanal:

in the north, the line joining Tukljaca point the Ricul light structure the Galesnjak light structure the W point of the islet of Bisaga Mala and the N coast of the islet of Garmenjak;

in the south, the line joining Soline cove (S of Biograd) with Studenac point (island of Pasman).

The fairways:

The western fairway within the lines joining the NE coast of the islet of Garmenjak Brizine point the harbour light in the village of Pasman light Cavatul the intersection of the alignment of the lights at Cavatul and Babac with the southern border of the channel the intersection of the southern border of the channel with the alignment (SW) of the point of the islet of Planac and the Sv Katarina light the Sv Katarina light the Babac light the intersection of the alignment of the midpoint of the islet of Cavatul and the Babac light with the northern border of the channel.

The eastern passage lying within the lines joining Soline cove the Biograd harbour light the Kocerka shoal light the Minerva shoal light the Ricul light the Galesnjak light W point of Bisaga mala the intersection of the alignment of the midpoint of Cavatul Islet and the Babac light with the northern border of the channel the intersection of the alignment of the midpoint of Cavatul Islet and the Babac light with the line joining the N coast of Garmenjak Islet and the Galesnjak light the W point of the island of Komornik the Komornik light the light on the E coast of Babac the Planac light the N point of Sv Katarina the intersection of the S border of the channel with the alignment of the SW point of Planac Island and the light on the islet of Sveta Katarina.

Vessels over 50 GRT must use the western fairway when going SE, and the eastern fairway when going NW.

Vessels up to 50 GRT and boats can pass from the western to the eastern fairway and vice versa in any part of the channel.

In the fairways of Pasmanski kanal, vessels over 50 GRT can navigate at a speed of up to 10 knots in the following areas:

in the western fairway from Brizine point to the S border of the channel;

in the eastern fairway from the entrance to the Komornik light.

Directions for navigation through the channel

Entering the channel from NW, use the western fairway; the course is indicated by the alignment, on a bearing of 143.5° (the western point of the islet of Babac the point of the islet of Cavatul). When abreast of the green tower with a column (green light) on the edge of the shoal S of the islet of Galesnjak, steer 148° which leads through the middle of the fairway between the harbour light (green tower with a gallery, green light) in Pasman harbour and the lighthouse (stone tower and small house, white light) on the islet of Babac. Passing the lighthouse, leave the shoals S of it (4.8 and 5.3 m) to port, steering 131° (the lighthouse on the islet of Sveta Katarina). Keep on that course until abreast of the light marking the shoal (green tower with a gallery, green light) off the N point of the islet of Cavatul; then turn right to the course leading W of the islet of Sveta Katarina (white tower in front of the house, white light).

Entering the channel from SE, use the eastern fairway, shaping course for the middle of the line joining the harbour light in Biograd and the islet of Planac, taking care of the shoal (3.5 m) E of the islet of Sveta Katarina. From the middle of this line steer for the islet of Ricul (white tower with a column and gallery, white light) on a bearing of 320° until abreast of the light on the islet of Komornik (red tower with s column and gallery, red light); then steer in the course leading S of the light on the islet of Galesnjak.

Warning: Anchoring off the entrances and exits from the fairways mentioned above and in the fairways themselves is prohibited. All vessels are prohibited from entering and navigating in the channel when visibility drops under 0.2 M.

Only angling and fishing with fish traps and only by day is permitted in the fairways. Outside the fairways fishing-boat lights of over 200 watts must be shaded so that they illuminate an area whose diameter does not exceed 4 m.