Either that you are planning to make yacht trip to Montenegro or you are just passing South Adriatic on the way to some other destination, there are some things that you should know.
Most important for everyone at sea should be safety, of course. You never know when something can go wrong, but if it does, you should know who to ask for assistance in the case of disstress at sea.
In the case of distress in Montenegrin Territorial or Adjacent Waters first point of contact for sending Distress Call is Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Bar ( MRCC Bar ) which prepares and coordinates serch and rescue operations in cooperation with other goverment departements. MRCC Bar maintains constant radio watch on VHF channels 16 and 24, VHF DSC on channel 70, on MF 2182 KHz and MF DSC 2187.5 KHz. Besides radio calls MRCC Bar can be contacted 24/7 on telephone number +382 30 19833 or by e-mail barradio@pomorstvo.me. MRCC Bar has at its disposal 21 fast smaller boats, 4 large vessels and 5 tug boats, and in the case of need it can alert also Air Units of Montenegrin Army and Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Harbour Master’s offices in Bar and Kotor are considered as sub-centers ( MRSC ) of MRCC Bar. Harbour Master’s Office Bar can be contacted on phone numbers +382 69 290 274 and +382 30 312 733 or e-mail harbourm@t-com.me and Harbour Master’s Office Kotor on +382 69 681 504 and +382 30 304 312 or e-mail kapetani@t-com.me.
On constant 24/7 watch as monitoring units are Navigable Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that can be reached by phones: Navigable Unit Herceg Novi and Kotor +382 31 678 008 and Navigable unit Bar, Budva and Ucinj +382 30 312 156. Also on constant 24/7 watch is Secretariat of the Coordination Body of the Coast Guard of Montenegro ( KTOS ) which can be contacted by phone +382 30 312 156 030.
Coast Radio Station BARRADIO ( call sign 4OB ) transmits Navigational Warnings and Weather Bulletins at VHF channels 16 and 24 at 08:50, 14:20 and 20:50 UTC ( local CET time is + 1 hour during winter and + 2 hours during summer ). Weather informations can be found also on website of Institute of Hidrometeorology of Montenegro and Navigational Warnings for Montenegrin Waters you can check on website of Maritime Safety Department of Montenegro.
In order to improve safety of navigation and marine pollution prevention, and to provide faster reactions in the case of search and rescue operations in Territorial Waters of Montenegro, Maritime Safety Department of Montenegro established VTMIS ( vessel traffic monitoring and information system ) which became mandatory from the 1st. January 2017.
Area of VTMIS spreads to 12 NM from shore and covers all Montenegrin Territorial Waters. Participations in VTMIS is mandatory for all vessels :
– with 300 GRT or more
– with 50 meters of lenght or more
– vessels restricted in their ability to manoeuver
– vessels on international voyages
– vessels engaged in towing or pushing another vessel
– vessels carrying dangerous or polluting substances
Reports consisting of : Vessels Name, Call Sign, Position, Speed, Destination and ETA should be made 15 minutes before entering VTMIS area, when leaving VTMIS area, in case of route deviation or in case of accidents or distress.
Some restrictions for navigation in Coastal Sea of Montengro, that you should be aware about are:
– Vessels employed at public transportation at sea are not allowed to approach coast at distance less than 300 meters.
– Vessels for sport, pleisure and yachts are not allowed to come near coast at distance less than 200 meters.
– Motor and sailing boats should not come close to coast at the distance of less than 150 meters and boat using oars at the distance less than 50 meters.
– All boats must stay away from water area of bathing places at a distance of more than 50 meters from the line of the built or arranged bathing place, or 150 meters from the coast of the natural bathing place.
– Gliders are allowed to glide at the distance of more than 200 meters from the coast and only in the area where gliding is not prohibited.
– Jet boats such as scooters, jet-ski, … are allowed to glide only in the area where it is allowed by local Harbour Master’s Office not less than 300 meters from the coast. Jet boats can pass to the area where gliding is allowed only through the established sea passages with minimum possible speed.
It is, also important to know that swimming is strictly prohibited outside of designated area of arranged or built bathing places, or 100 meters from the coast of natural bathing places.
Bear in mind that obtaing clearance for entry in Montegro by sea is possible in Ports of Bar, Kotor and Zelenika during the whole year, and additionally from May to Octobar, arrival clearance can be obtained in Dukley Marina Budva and Porto Montenegro Marina in Tivat.
Crewmembers or passengers who hold passports of Republic of Albania, Czech Republic, Republic of Cuba, Russian Federation, Republic of Ecuador, Republic of Peru may enter and stay in Montenegro up to 30 days without need for visa.
Crewmembers or passengers who hold passports of Andorra, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Guatemala, Greece, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands, Honduras, Croatia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Canada, Cyprus, Korea, Costa Rica, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Germany, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, El Salvador, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, United States of America, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Vatican, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela and holders of passports issued in special administrative area of Hong Kong and Macau in People’s Republic of China can enter in Montenegro without visa and stay up to 90 days.
Up to 30 days without need for passport but only with valid ID in Montengro can enter and stay citizens of EU countries and citizens of Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Serbia, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican and Switzerland.
Crewmembers of states that are not in this list may enter, stay for up to 30 days in Montenegro or transit Montenegro if they have valid United States visa, valid visa for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, valid Visa for Ireland or valid Schengen Visa.
For Updated list of Montengrin Visa regulation you can check website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro.
For any other information feel free to contact our Yacht Agent in Montenegro. We will be glad to assist you in best possible way, to make your Montenegrin Vacation as pleasant as it could be. Our Yacht Agency in Montenegro is offering full service for Yachts visiting Montenegro, from finishing Custom and Port Formalities, providing Supplies, Provisions,Fuel Bunkering and Spare parts, to arranging Yachts Insurance, Registration, Maintenance or Repair. Or anything else that you might need.
Even if you don’t intend to visit Montenegro but just passing by South Adriatic on the way to some other destination, there is no reason why you would not use possibility of VAT free fuel bunkering in Port of Bar, Marina Bar or Porto Montenegro Marina Tivat and on that way get fuel by prices which are up to 45% less than normal retail prices.
