Duty-Free Fuel Returns to Montenegro

Big News for the Yachting Industry: Duty-Free Fuel Returns to Montenegro! 🚤⛽

We are excited to share some fantastic news! 

Montenegro is reintroducing duty-free fuel for foreign yachts and vessels, both private and commercial.

This benefit was cancelled in 2022 but now is reinstated and will be available for everyone in 2025.

Key points:

* Significant savings on fuel for private and charter yachts, putting Montenegro back on itineraries and maps for all yachts in Med!

* Tax-free refueling available along the Montenegrin coast - Porto Montenegro (all sizes of yachts), Portonovi (up to 90 meter yachts), Port of Bar (all sizes of yacht and vessels) 

* This regulation will come into effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette of Montenegro in January!

Stay tuned for updates regarding the exact conditions under which duty-free fuel will be available for private and commercial yachts.

If you have any additional questions feel free to ask us anytime as always!

Montenegro's stunning coastline and exceptional hospitality and Yacht Agent Montenegro await you with renewed benefits in 2025!

NEW ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR MONTENEGRO

The Government of Montenegro has adopted new Covid-19 measures, which will be valid from December 30, 2021 to January 12, 2022.

Entry requirements - from January 2, 2022

Montenegrin citizens and foreigners can enter Montenegro across all border crossings with one of two proofs, which are:

1. Completely vaccinated against COVID-19 issue by a registered health institution and not older than six months since having the last dose or

2. Proof that a person has recovered from Covid-19 (passed not less than 10 days and not more than 180 days from a positive PCR or a rapid antigen test)

In both cases, the person must possess either a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours or a rapid antigen test not older than 48 hours.

If a person does not have any of these documents, then 10 days of isolation is mandatory. Persons can have their self–isolation terminated after three days of quarantine, with a negative PCR test.

General restrictions

• Masks are obligatory in all closed spaces,

• Bars and restaurants work until 22:00 h (from 1st January 2022). Music is not allowed,

• Entrance into the inside of the restaurants and bars, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries is possible with one of the proofs from the National digital COVID certificate*,

• Supermarkets, markets, shopping malls, boutiques, beauty salons, hairdressers and similar, have no limitations in working hours,

• Ban on public events, private gatherings, celebrations, parties, weddings.

* National digital COVID certificate

- completely vaccinated against Covid-19 issue by a registered health institution and not older than six months since having the last dose;

- negative PCR test on SARS-Cov-2 not older than 72 hours;

- proof that a person has recovered from Covid-19 (passed not less than 10 days and not more than 180 days from a positive PCR or a rapid antigen test) or

- negative antigen rapid test - BAT not older than 48 hours.

MAXIMUM ALLOWED SPEED IN THE BOKA BAY

While navigating through Montenegro’s internal waters, a yacht is obliged to proceed at a safe speed so as not to endanger and harm other vessels at sea.

Boka Bay (Bay of Kotor) is the popular nautical destination in Montenegro. The sea traffic, especially during the summer season is busy. Therefore, it is important to obey speed limitations.

The speed of navigation in the entire Bay of Boka is limited.

The speed limit for vessels over 24 m

The safe speed limit within Boka Bay shall not exceed 10 knots, and while in the Strait of Kumbor, the Strait of  Verige maximum speed is 6 knots.

These speed limits are mandatory for all vessels longer at 24 m: super yachts, mega yachts, yachts, sail yachts, catamarans, trimarans, cruisers, etc.

The speed limit for yachts up to 24 m

For vessels with a length less than 24 meters, the maximum speed in the Bay of Boka is 14 knots, and while in Kumbor Strait (channel) and the Strait of Verige speed limit is 10 knots.

The speed limit for vessels in the Bay of Kotor 

⛵ Speed in the Strait of Kumbor is restricted between coordinates:

1) 42˚26,1’N 018˚36,6’E

2) 42˚25,47’N 018˚36,26’E

3) 42˚25,85’N 018˚34,63’E

4) 42˚26,47’N 018˚35,01’E

⛵ Speed in the Strait of Verige is restricted between coordinates:

1) 42˚28,65’N 018˚41,41’E

2) 42˚28,77’N 018˚41,11’E

3) 42˚27,65’N 018˚40,15’E

4) 42˚27,46’N 018˚41,02’E

Update Greece - August 5, 2020

Entry to Greece:

1. Is allowed for Greek citizens, regardless of their country of origin, on the condition that they have a Greek passport or a special identity card for expatriates;

2. Citizens and residents of the European Union (EU);

3. Citizens and residents of the EU+. This includes Schengen countries that are not in the EU (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Lichtenstein) plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, Ireland and the UK. Non-EU passport holders with EU permanent residence permits may enter Greece. Contact the Greek Embassy in the country of your residence to verify your residency documents and they will permit you to enter Greece;

4. Citizens and residents of the following non-EU countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay.

All sea connections between Greece and Turkey, Greece and Albania will remain closed until August 14th!

As from 16 July, member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries: 

Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.

Regarding the epidemiological situation, third countries listed should meet the following criteria, in particular:

1. Number of new COVID-19 cases over the last 14 days and per 100 000 inhabitants close to or below the EU average (as it stood on 15 June 2020);

2. The stable or decreasing trend of new cases over this period in comparison to the previous 14 days;

3. The overall response to COVID-19 taking into account available information, including on aspects such as testing, surveillance, contact tracing, containment, treatment and reporting, as well as the reliability of the information and, if needed, the total average score for International Health Regulations (IHR). Information provided by EU delegations on these aspects should also be taken into account.

Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

NOTE: Entry into Greece regardless of nationality is allowed for all crew members on private or charter vessels. Upon entry of the passenger who will be staying on the private or charter yacht the measures apply as for Greek and foreign nationals listed in the text above.

Update Montenegro - August 5, 2020.

International maritime traffic is performed with countries and across the territory of countries from the 'green list,' consisting of: EU Member States, Algeria, Andorra, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, Georgia, Iceland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Korea, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia. 

'Yellow list': Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Kosovo, Israel and Singapore. 

At the session of the National Coordination Body for Communicable Diseases, the list of countries whose residents can enter Montenegro was updated. From 04. August 2020. residents of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan will be allowed to enter Montenegro without additional conditions.

                  

If you and your crew meet all of these conditions you are welcome to come to Montenegro without any additional restrictions:

* If you, your crew or guests are residents of one of the countries from the green list, or has stayed in the country from the green list, for at least 15 days before entering Montenegro;
* If in the period from the 15th day before entering Montenegro to the day of entry, you, your crew or guests did not stay in any of the countries not included in the green list of countries;
* You, your crew or guests did not travel to any of the countries or through any of the countries not included in the green list of countries, except in transit.

Also, with the negative PCR, ELISA or ECLIA test for COVID-19, which is no older than 72 hours:

* If you, your crew or guests are residents from one of the countries from the previous 'green list' or 'yellow list' or have stayed in the country from the previous 'green list' or 'yellow list' for at least 15 days before entry to Montenegro;
* In the period from the 15th day before entering Montenegro to the day of entry, he or she did not stay in any of country out of the previous 'green list' or this 'yellow list';
* He or she did not travel through one of the countries out of the previous 'green list' and 'yellow list' of countries, except in transit.

NOTE: The obligation of having a test does NOT apply to children under the age of five.

Refit and repair center for mega yachts in Montenegro

The Government of Montenegro approved a contract for awarding a concession for the commercial use of the Shipyard Bijela with two prestigious companies in the maritime industry, local luxury marina operator Adriatic Marinas and Dutch defense, shipbuilding and engineering conglomerate Damen NV. The concession will refer to a period of 30 years and they plan to invest €20 million in the next three years. At the site of the former shipyard, these two companies will set up a new center intended for repair and service of mega and super yachts.

It is located in a fenced circle of the mentioned shipyard harbor whose surface area is about 108 thousand square meters, while the area under the buildings is about 25 thousand square meters.

                           

Boka Bay

As previously announced, a new yacht repair and service center will be able to repair yachts up to 120m in length. The center will have a large synchro lift, several travel lifts of greater capacity, and four modern refurbishment workshops, one of which will be completely closed, intended for painting the yacht.

By opening this repair center for mega and super yachts, Montenegro will complete the offer in the sphere of nautical tourism, so that the owners of the vessel, in addition to the existing amenities (berth for yachts up to 250m, tax-free diesel, 7% VAT on services provided by the marina, 0% charter tax), will have all that is necessary for their boat during the summer and winter season.

Warsash Superyacht Academy (WSA) in Montenegro

In cooperation with the Nautical Maritime Center Porto Montenegro - Tivat, prestigious British Academy for the training of seafarers opens the department in Montenegro. Warsash Superyacht Academy offers training for nautical and shipbuilding personnel. They also offer training for the so-called "White staff" (stewardess, hostesses and catering staff). By opening this training center, WSA will improve its training facilities, while Porto Montenegro will further expand its services for superyachts.

Warsash Superyacht Academy will launch of courses in Montenegro this autumn.

Current and planned investment includes: 

· High tech campuses for deck and engineering training;

· A state-of-the art simulation centre with six full-mission bridges and an engine room;

· Safety training centre including a purpose-built fire school, helicopter underwater escape trainer, survival pool and medical rooms;

· GMDSS radio communications and dynamic positioning (DP) facilities;

· New cyber security centre with cutting-edge interactive training suites;

· New superyacht training facilities at Porto Montenegro;

· New superyacht master’s degree, MSc Superyacht Design;

· Two new vessels at the world’s leading 

ship-handling centre.

Marina with 450 berths (up to 250 meters), 24 hours of assistance for captains and crew, VAT benefits, seafaring training center, agents, brokers, nearby shipyards, makes Porto Montenegro a real yachting homeport base in the Mediterranean.