The Public Company for Coastal Zone Management is set to invest nearly 20,000 euros in acquiring two sets of diving gear, including spare items like gloves, knives, regulators, and diving computers. Alternatively, they might purchase a compressor to fill diving tanks with air.

This decision follows a tender for diving equipment procurement, where the state-owned company chose the bid from “Centroslavija” in Podgorica, valued at 17,189 euros excluding VAT, as the most advantageous.

The proposal from the secondary bidder, “Divetech CZ Service,” was dismissed due to formal inaccuracies determined by the JPMD tender commission.

The Marine department, overseen by Mladen Mikijelj, has yet to disclose to the public the reasons for acquiring diving equipment, nor who among its staff will utilize it and for what purposes. The use of lightweight autonomous diving gear acquired by Morsko dobro necessitates that individuals undertaking this activity complete appropriate training and certification at accredited diving centers in the country.

This marks the first instance in the 33-year history of the Marine Reserve where diving equipment has been purchased. Although JPMD is responsible for three marine protected areas—Platamuni, Katič, and Stari Ulcinj—routine monitoring and scientific research in these zones must be conducted by specialists from the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor due to the lack of trained personnel within the Marine Reserve.

Before year-end, Morsko dobro plans to initiate another public procurement process, which has already incited considerable public backlash. “Vijesti” revealed that JPMD management plans to allocate 400,000 euros for the purchase of a less opulent daily or sport cruiser motor yacht for the company’s protocol needs. Following an initiative from Mladen Mikijelj, this yacht procurement has been slated as item #162 in its 2025 procurement plan, which was approved by the state-owned company’s Board of Directors. This budget includes 400,000 euros with VAT for this year.

The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property confirmed to “Vijesti” that this state entity will indeed allocate 400,000 euros to acquire a smaller yacht, noting that this vessel is aimed at enhancing the management of protected areas and exploring the rest of Montenegro’s coastline via sea.

“The planned vessel is expected to facilitate activities outlined within the management plans for protected areas, such as educational excursions, scientific research, and other collaborative field visits with institutions and organizations from both Montenegro and abroad. The yacht will also serve diplomatic and promotional purposes, showcasing the coast to international delegations and prospective investors, catering to not only the Coastal Zone needs but also other governmental institutions,” stated the Ministry of the Interior to “Vijesti.”

The ministry, under Slaven Radunović, highlighted that “despite having sea access, Montenegro currently lacks an adequate vessel for state needs, specifically for the national team,” adding that the minister “endorsed this initiative.”

The Coastal Administration already possesses a 7.8-meter RHIB boat from “RIS Marine” valued at 170,000 euros, received in November 2023 through the GEF project “Promoting Protected Area Management through Integrated Protection of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems in the Coastal Region of Montenegro.” This vessel was reported to be intended “for conducting oversight in marine protected zones.”

Recently, this vessel was recorded navigating the Bojana River with two partially unclad individuals onboard, violating navigation safety rules by operating significantly above the maximum speed limit of six knots and gliding within 150 meters of the shore.

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