The Public Company for Coastal Zone Management is planning to allocate 400,000 euros for the acquisition of a smaller luxury motor yacht (either a daily or sport cruiser) for the corporate protocol needs of the state-owned company.

This information was unofficially verified by sources close to the management of Morski dobro, whose director is a representative of the New Serbian Democracy, Mladen Mikijelj.

The state-owned news outlet “Vijesti” has yet to receive responses to queries regarding this procurement. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property indicated to “Vijesti” that this vessel will be utilized for educational and scientific tours in protected regions, field activities alongside domestic and international institutions, and for showcasing the coastline to foreign delegations and potential investors, as well as serving the needs of Coastal Zone and other government institutions in Montenegro.

Morsko dobro has designated “vessel procurement” as the 162nd item in its Public Procurement Plan for 2025, which was approved by the Board of Directors. The company’s budget for this fiscal year has earmarked 400,000 euros, inclusive of VAT, for this purpose. While the Public Procurement Plan lacks detailed specifications regarding the type of vessel, it does include a numerical code in the public procurement system that categorizes it as “amphibious vessels and ships.”

The Coastal State Administration has not responded to “Vijesti”‘s inquiries about the specifics of the vessel they wish to acquire, on whose initiative this is being pursued, and its intended use. Notably, this state-owned company already possesses a fast RHIB boat that measures 7.8 meters and features a 200-horsepower outboard engine. This vessel, manufactured by Croatia’s “RIS Marine,” valued at 170,000 euros, was delivered to the Coastal State Administration in November 2023 as part of the GEF project “Promoting the management of protected areas through integrated protection of marine and coastal ecosystems in the coastal area of Montenegro,” which is being executed in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Northern Development. At the time, it was emphasized that the vessel was intended for “monitoring marine protected areas.”

“It is indeed accurate that a new luxury vessel costing 400,000 euros including VAT is on the procurement list. When Board members inquired about the nature of this item and its inclusion in the company’s Public Procurement Plan for this year, Mladen Mikijelj asserted that it is a “vessel for protocol purposes and is utilized by strategic partners of the Maritime Administration and investors.” He further stated that the purchase was initiated by the relevant minister,” Slaven Radunović. To the astonishment of the Board members, Mikijelj posed the rhetorical question: “Would you refuse the minister?”, a source told “Vijesti”.

Slaven Radunović (Nova), who oversees the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property (MDUP), is Mikijelj’s direct superior, as the Coastal Zone falls under this ministry’s purview. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Coastal Zone is Zvezdana Janović, a member of the Europe Now Movement from Budva and the spouse of the head of Montenegro’s National Security Agency, Ivica Janović.

The Ministry of Spatial Planning confirmed to “Vijesti” that Morsko dobro will indeed proceed with acquiring a new vessel, but they disputed the claim that this was initiated and requested by Minister Radunović, asserting that Mikijelj was the driving force behind this purchase.

“The financial allocation plan for the Public Company for the Management of the Coastal Zone in 2025, proposed by the executive director, includes the acquisition of a vessel to ensure adequate management of protected areas and for coastal tours of Montenegro from the sea. This vessel will also facilitate activities outlined in the management plans for protected areas—primarily for educational tours, scientific research, and collaborative field trips with domestic and international organizations. Additionally, the vessel will be used to showcase and present the coastline to representatives of foreign delegations and potential investors, serving not only the Coastal Zone but other governmental institutions in Montenegro as well,” this government department informed “Vijesti”.

Radunović’s department emphasizes that “despite Montenegro’s access to the sea, it lacks a suitable vessel for state purposes regarding the national team,” and that the minister “endorsed this initiative from the respective authorities of the Maritime Administration.”

The assertion that Montenegro lacks an “adequate vessel for state needs” is misleading, as the state possesses all the naval ships of the Army of Montenegro (VCG), including the tall ship “Jadran,” which serves as the most prestigious vessel representing the state. The Navy also operates the motorboat ČM-33, one of four relatively luxurious wooden vessels approximately 10 meters long, constructed in 1988-1991 at the Punat shipyard on Krk for the protocol needs of former high-ranking naval officials of the Yugoslav Navy.

They Sought a Yacht at the Düsseldorf Fair

A source from “Vijesti” noted that Mikijelj and his assistant Nikola Radjenovic visited the international boat show “BOOT Düsseldorf” in Germany this January, in connection with sourcing a new “protocol vessel” for Morsko dobro. Their goal was to explore the available offerings of potentially suitable vessels that align with the financial parameters outlined in the Public Procurement Plan of this state-owned company.

This fair, one of the largest nautical exhibitions in Europe, featured approximately 1,500 exhibitors from 68 countries showcasing their products across all areas of yachting and recreational nautical activities.

With a budget of 400,000 euros, there is potential to purchase several models of vessels (mini yachts – known as daily cruisers or fast speedboats) ranging from 30 to 45 feet (9.14 to 13.7 meters) with either inboard or outboard engines, available in various designs and luxury levels. This budget includes models such as the “Aquila 32 Sport,” “Axopar 45 XC Cross Cabin,” “Beneteau Gran Turismo 36,” “Chaparral 347 SSX,” “Cutwater C-32 CB,” “Jeanneau DB/37 OB,” “Ranger Tugs R-31 Sedan,” “Regal 33 Express,” “Sea Ray 320 Sundancer,” and “Tiara 34LS.”

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