The Ministries of Maritime Affairs and Interior have not yet informed the public under what circumstances the maritime accident occurred last week in the waters of the Bay of Kotor, and who ran aground on the shore of the protected active military facility Pristan on the northwestern coast of the Luštica peninsula.
Namely, a motor speedboat for transporting passengers, registered in Tivat, about 10 meters long, powered by two outboard engines, on the night between May 8th and 9th, under still unclear circumstances, "flew" onto the shore and ran aground in Pristan.
Due to the fact that the Pier is an active military facility, a special navigation regime applies at that location, prohibiting all vessels from approaching the shore at a distance of less than 100 meters. This prohibited zone is marked on all current maritime charts and is familiar to all participants in navigation.
Judging by the photo of the stranded speedboat, which was sent to "Vijesti" by citizens the day after the accident, this vessel was moving on a southeasterly course from the entrance to Boka Bay towards the Bay of Tivat and, apparently, at a significant speed because the speedboat literally "raced" and rose onto the coast that runs parallel to its direction of travel.
Despite the fact that the competent authorities were immediately informed about the incident, neither the Ministry of the Interior nor the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, through its Inspectorate and Directorate for Navigation Safety, have so far informed the public that this accident even occurred, nor who the perpetrators were, or whether there were any injuries in the incident. The speedboat has since been removed from the coast of Pristan.
"Vijesti" unofficially learned that on Saturday morning, May 9th, immediately after receiving notification of the accident, the chief inspector of navigation safety at the Kotor Port Authority was on site. Željko Lompar, but that he did not find any of the people who were on the speedboat at the time it ran aground there. The speedboat suffered minor damage, but there was no sea pollution because no fuel leaked from the stranded vessel.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs only responded yesterday to questions from "Vijesti" sent to them on Monday, but still withheld details of this incident from the public.
"Regarding your inquiry, we would like to inform you that the Navigation Safety Inspection of the Kotor Port Authority is aware of the incident in question and that the competent services have undertaken activities within their jurisdiction. The inspection supervision is ongoing, and all relevant facts and circumstances regarding the maritime accident are being collected, including the identity of the participants, the number of people on board, any injuries, as well as the existence of material damage or sea pollution," the ministry headed by the minister announced. Filip Radulović (PES).
They stated that "after the completion of the procedure, all facts will be established and, accordingly, appropriate measures will be taken against the responsible persons, if irregularities or violations of regulations are determined, including the possible movement of vessels in a prohibited navigation zone."
"Other competent authorities have been informed of the incident in accordance with the prescribed procedures, when there is a basis for doing so. In order to protect the integrity of the ongoing proceedings, we are not able to provide more detailed information at this time," the Ministry of Maritime Affairs announced, adding that "the public will be informed in a timely manner after the proceedings are completed."
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