The Public Company for Coastal Zone Management anticipates that its Maritime and Coastal Transport Sector, which runs the sole ferry line in the country across the Verige Strait in Boka Kotorska, will achieve total revenues of nine million euros this year.

This figure represents just over one-third of the projected total revenues for this state-owned entity, expected to reach 26,626,527 euros. The forecasted operational costs for the ferry line are estimated at 7.02 million euros, indicating that this operation should yield nearly two million euros in net profits for Morski Dobr in 2025.

This information is included in the company’s 2025 asset utilization plan, which was recently approved by the Government.

The salary costs for employees, along with current and general operations of the ferry line this year, are projected at 2,234,327 euros, while fuel expenses for the vessels are forecasted at 1.5 million euros. Morsko dobro plans to allocate 1,455,000 euros this year for ferry repairs and maintenance.

According to the plan, Morsko dobro will also set aside 1,408,627 euros this year to repay the principal and interest on loans acquired from commercial banks for the acquisition of the fleet from the former private ferry operator, Pomorski saobraćaj, and an additional ship each from Croatia and Greece.

This year, salary costs for employees and operational expenses for the ferry line are projected to total 2,234,327 euros, with fuel expenses at 1.5 million euros. Morsko dobro will allocate 1,455,000 euros for ferry repairs and maintenance, which includes plans for extensive repairs on the ferries “Grbalj”, “Teodo”, and “Perast”, as well as replacing the main propulsion engines on “Grbalj” with refurbished spare engines.

Various consumables needed for ferry operations this year are expected to cost 38,000 euros. Morsko dobro will budget 90,000 euros for the insurance of vessels and ferry service users, along with 6,000 euros for the disposal of oily wastewater from the ships. The office renovation for the Maritime and Coastal Transport Sector in Lepetane is estimated at 30,000 euros. Additionally, seven thousand euros will be allocated for purchasing water for employees on the vessels and at port security in Lepetane and Kamenari, as well as servicing air conditioning and acquiring fire extinguishers. The decoration and branding of ticket offices at the ports is also included, with an office supplies budget set at 14,000 euros, while 5,000 euros are allocated for employee medical certificates.

In January this year, Morsko dobro ferries transported a total of 90,730 vehicles of all types on the Kamenari-Lepetane route. This figure is approximately 550 vehicles fewer than in the same month last year, yet the financial income rose by about 26,000 euros compared to January of the previous year.

“This suggests that while we experienced a slight decline in the number of passenger cars transported last month, the number of heavy goods vehicles has significantly increased compared to the same period in 2024,” remarked Aleksandar Crvenko, the manager of the Morsko dobro ferry line, in an interview with “Vijesti” yesterday.

Notably, the ferry line management is contemplating adjusting current ticket prices due to observable trends in the types of vehicles transported across the Veriga Strait. They may propose increased ticket prices for four-axle trucks—specifically dump trucks and concrete mixers—as these vehicles, weighing over 40 tons, negatively affect ferry decks, loading ramps, and other structural components due to their high axle loads. The frequent transport of such heavy vehicles contributes to accelerated wear and depreciation of the ferries.

Furthermore, there has been a marked increase in recent months in the number of trucks transporting livestock from Western Europe to Albania, utilizing the route along the Montenegrin coast and ferries in Boka Bay. These trucks not only exacerbate the existing traffic congestion and delays in Tivat and Herceg Novi but also generate extremely unpleasant odors due to the nature of their cargo. Consequently, ferry line managers believe it would be prudent to double the ferry ticket price for trucks carrying livestock, in an effort to deter drivers from using the service. Currently, the ticket price for these trucks stands at 25.50 euros, the same as for other freight vehicles in this category, while heavy dump trucks and concrete mixers, classified as oversized vehicles, are charged 29 euros.

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