Taxi boat operators in Bar remain uncertain about where they will dock and welcome passengers this summer. The issue has arisen because the Coastal Zone Authority’s tender for beach leases did not account for docks for such vessels.

For the past seven days, the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management, led by Mladen Mikijelj, has not responded to “Vijesti”‘s inquiries about the docking situation for taxi boats. This matter was a cause of protest by members of the “Plavi Jadran” tourist boat association in February, as they gathered in front of the Coastal Zone Office in Bar.

During that protest, taxi boat owners described the lack of docking facilities as unacceptable, posing a serious threat to their livelihoods since no provisions for passenger boat access exist in Bar.

At that time, they expressed the need for a resolution within “the next ten or fifteen days,” but now, four months later, the circumstances remain unchanged. Docks were not included in the tender, leaving sea passenger carriers without any agreement with the Coastal Zone.

Some members have reported a meeting with representatives from the state-owned company, where they were advised to negotiate internally with beach tenants for potential subleases regarding the piers.

Uncertain about their options, they explained that the only legal means of transporting passengers is to bring them back to the Bar marina, which they feel is nearly impossible due to its distance from the beaches where they typically gather passengers.

This uncertainty, they stated, casts doubt on their operations for the upcoming tourist season.

“Most of us are still out at sea preparing, but only one of us is operational. Unfortunately, there are no visitors and no dock in sight. In previous years, we would be ready to go, but this year we are unsure of what will happen,” one taxi boat owner told “Vijesti.”

They are still considering the Coastal Zone’s suggestion to negotiate with beach tenants regarding the piers, but the concerns over legality, terms, and the high fees imposed by tenants remain a significant deterrent.

They believe engaging in such arrangements may expose them to risks, as ensuring compliance from tenants could prove difficult, and subleasing could become costly if beach managers even agree to it.

The “Plavi Jadran” Association of Tourist Boats for Passenger Transport consists of 19 members, representing all sea passenger transporters in Bar.

During the protest in February, “Plavi Jadran” members delivered a letter to officials in Bar clarifying their legal operations, countering statements by the Minister of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, Slaven Radunović, who indicated that the new Coastal Zone tender aimed to combat mafia activity.

“We are all registered, 19 of us, and operate legally. None of us are involved in criminal activities, which is why we remain here today. If our request for docks is not addressed, we will have no choice but to block ships from entering the port,” they stated at that time.

However, they have since relinquished that course of action, as hopes for a peaceful resolution linger. They face the reality of their existence, relying on a work schedule that lasts merely “a month and a half,” which they estimate as the duration of the tourist season.

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