The luxury motor yacht “Ramonda” was entirely consumed by fire that erupted while it was stationed at the Portonovi marina in Kumbor, near Herceg Novi, the day before yesterday. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MP) confirmed to “Vijesti” that the yacht is officially registered to the Belgrade-based company “Millenium Team” doo.

This 30-meter yacht, weighing in at 136 tons and reportedly valued at around 10 million euros, carries the flag of the small Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, renowned for its “Flags of Convenience” status, offering various fiscal and administrative advantages to ship owners who register there.

Documentation submitted to Montenegrin maritime authorities during the registration process for the “Ramonda” indicates that the owner is the company “Millenium Team”. Serbian media reports that the firm is owned by Belgrade entrepreneurs Stojan Vujka and Ivan Bošnjak, known for their ties to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party led by President Aleksandar Vučić. Reports allege that “Millenium Team” has secured numerous lucrative contracts in Serbia, particularly involving state or state-owned enterprises. In addition to “Millenium Team”, Vujka and Bošnjak own approximately fifteen other businesses across the country and region. Notably, “Millenium Team” recently acquired the former construction powerhouse “Mostogradnja” in Belgrade, continuing a trend of purchasing companies through bankruptcy auctions, often at significantly reduced prices.

“The Vujko-Bošnjak partnership began amassing their business empire through gasification projects, especially in Vojvodina. Since the SNS party took power, they have participated in almost every major infrastructure initiative in the country. They frequently acquire bankrupt companies at prices well below their actual worth,” Nova.rs explains, adding that their acquisitions have included the once-renowned “Jaroslav Černi” Institute, the “Goša” Institute, vineyards in the Novi Sad region, the “Šapat” Winery, and the “Navipo” vineyards in southern Serbia, as well as various real estate holdings including a notable hotel complex and a former rehabilitation hospital in Vranjska Banja.

“Prior to acquiring ‘Mostogradnja’, ‘Millenium Team’ also purchased the iconic hotel ‘Jugoslavija’, acquiring this Belgrade landmark for 27 million euros through its subsidiary ‘MV Investment’. This transaction marked the first public auction for the hotel, and the deal was concluded at the starting price, which was only half of the estimated worth of bankrupt company ‘Danube Riverside’, the hotel’s former owner. Alongside the hotel, the transaction included approximately 4.5 hectares of land and assets like a chandelier-ceiling and a bronze bust of Alexander Zarina, both classified as protected cultural property,” Nova.rs reported, noting the lack of competitive bidding likely stemmed from partial ownership of the land by ‘Millenium Team’.

Serbian media later revealed that the new owners plan to develop a 240,000 square meter business and residential complex on the site of Hotel “Jugoslavija”, which is set to include two skyscrapers measuring 155 meters. Public opposition arose, but construction commenced in November 2024, beginning with the demolition of the historic Belgrade hotel.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

The “Ramonda”, destroyed in the Portonovi fire, was merely two years old. Measuring 30 meters in length and 7 meters in width, this fiberglass vessel could accommodate up to 10 guests and five crew members. Built by the Italian shipyard “Azimut-Benetti,” the “Ramonda” belongs to the “Magellano 30M” class, which has been under production since January 2022.

According to unofficial reports from “Vijesti”, there were no crew members aboard at the time of the incident, an unusual circumstance for a yacht of its size. Reliable sources indicate that the skipper and crew were visiting a nearby café when the fire began, first noticed by dock workers who alerted the skipper and subsequently contacted firefighting services.

“Footage of the firefighting efforts suggests that the fire originated in the superstructure on the left side, likely in the galley area. The investigation to determine the root cause of the fire is ongoing,” stated a source.

As per unofficial reports from the newspaper, the yacht’s skipper has already provided a statement to the Herceg Novi police. Given the total loss of the multimillion-euro vessel and the potential risk posed to nearby boats, involvement from criminal investigators is possible in the ongoing inquiry. Although the “Ramonda” was equipped with an automatic CO2 fire suppression system in its engine room, the fire apparently ignited on the deck above in the living quarters—specifically the galley—where only manual fire extinguishing equipment is available, necessitating timely crew intervention.

When inquired whether authorities had initiated contact with the insurer known as the P&I Club regarding compensation for potential environmental damages or costs for the removal and treatment of the shipwreck, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs revealed to “Vijesti” that “Generali osiguranje” dd Zagreb is the insurance provider for the “Ramonda”.

“Inspections by relevant authorities are currently underway to gather information, draft reports, and determine future actions. Communication has been established between the owner, insurer, and operator of the Portonovi marina,” asserted the Ministry, overseen by Filip Radulović (PES).

The authorities did not elaborate on specific plans or timeline for the removal of the wreckage from Kumbor’s waters or its subsequent disposal, especially considering the yacht’s fiberglass construction.

“Future actions will hinge on findings from the investigation conducted by the relevant authorities. Updates on the process for removing the remnants of the burned vessel will be communicated appropriately,” they stated.

Ministry: Portonovi complies with standards, but we shall enhance them

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has determined that the Portonovi marina adheres to the standards outlined in the National Emergency Response Plan for incidents involving marine pollution from vessels.

“This plan outlines various response levels based on the specific circumstances of each facility or port and the risk assessments conducted as part of oil pollution preparedness efforts. Level 1 encompasses readiness and responses to minor spills manageable by the port where the incident occurs. In this context, ports develop individual action plans and services for emergency responses and extraordinary situations. Marina Portonovi has established adequate plans for emergency response, possesses a dedicated security and rescue service, maintains a fixed fire protection system, and holds agreements with the Herceg Novi protection and rescue service and the environmental protection firm ‘Hemosan’.

They also mentioned ongoing efforts to refine the legal framework, with “the Draft Law on the Protection of the Sea from Pollution from Maritime Facilities” currently being aligned with state authorities. This legislation will stipulate obligations for port users regarding preventative measures against oil pollution and mandates response protocols in the event of such pollution according to emergency plans.

“Analysis of the current legal framework has highlighted a need for stronger regulations concerning navigation safety and emergency response protocols. Consequently, to address risks associated with maritime accidents in our waters, particularly in the Bay of Kotor, the draft Law on Navigation Safety introduces mandatory security escorts for vessels over 100 meters long. This measure is intended to minimize risks during vessel maneuvering and also incorporates functions for fire suppression, oil spill responses, and emergency evacuation by sea. Therefore, the inclusion of multifunctional tugboats is crucial for effective emergency responses,” explained Filip Radulović from the ministry.

However, they did not clarify why the Portonovi marina does not have its own firefighting vessel, unlike the similar Porto Montenegro marina in Tivat, nor why the nearby tugboat “Boka Bay”, operated by “Boka Pilot & Tug Services” and equipped with high-capacity fire monitors, was not deployed during the incident involving the “Ramonda”.

The Ministry also indicated that the forthcoming draft of the Law on Ports will “include stipulations regarding the additional responsibilities of port operators concerning navigation safety, water pollution protection, and maintaining order within ports, in line with EU standards.”

The remains were still smoldering yesterday.

Zlatko Ćirović, the head of the Protection and Rescue Service of Herceg Novi, informed “Vijesti” yesterday that the remnants of the “Ramonda” continue to smolder, particularly on the lower levels of the hull, especially the deck separating the engine room from the lower cabins.

“With assistance from a colleague familiar with the ship’s layout, we accessed three cabins above the engine room and systematically extinguished the flames within them. Currently, the fire is smoldering in the engine room, flaring up intermittently as we clear debris from above, allowing more air to fuel the fire. Nonetheless, the smoke production has significantly decreased, and we are working diligently to extinguish it completely,” Ćirović stated around 16:45.

In addition to the Herceg Novi firefighters, a specialized team from “Hemosan” in Bar was engaged to continuously pump out contaminated water from the wrecked hull, collecting it in specific tanks to mitigate environmental damage caused by the incident.

Ćirović expressed hope that the fire would be fully extinguished by today, allowing for the stabilization of the yacht’s remains to facilitate transport to the Adriatic 42 shipyard in Bijela, where the wreckage would be dismantled and treated appropriately according to the materials used in the yacht’s construction.

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