The Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2040 envisages the improvement of port capacities and infrastructure for maritime transport, the revitalization and improvement of the Montenegrin fleet, the connection of the Port of Bar with two highways and a modernized railway, the development of the ports of Bar, Budva, Luštica, Porto Montenegro, Herceg Novi, Risan and Kotor for cruising - passenger tourism, the expansion of existing marinas and the formation of new ones along with future tourist - hotel complexes on the coast...
"Montenegro, as a maritime state, should have a strong and competitive maritime economy in the planning period and contribute to the overall economic development of Montenegro with a significant share in GDP," it is stated in the general goals of economic development until 2040, where the Port of Bar is listed as a future regional port center on the Adriatic.
According to the plan, a significant place in the vision of a new sustainable economic development of Montenegro is occupied by the so-called "blue economy" - all economic activities at sea and from the sea. Last year, Montenegro became a member of the European Partnership for a Sustainable Blue Economy, which is why it is obliged to adhere to the agenda of this Partnership in its planning documents and strategies related to the use of the sea.
"The spatial plan will ensure the balanced development of the 'blue economy' through the arrangement of activities such as tourism, fishing and mariculture, maritime traffic, controlled exploitation of mineral resources, regulation of waterways and nautical and fishing infrastructure," the document states.
The sectoral goal is to increase the contribution of the maritime economy and maritime transport and to use the advantages of Montenegro's position in the Mediterranean, to improve port capacities and infrastructure for maritime transport, as well as to revitalize and improve the Montenegrin fleet.
Two European corridors touch Montenegro
The document states that around 75 percent of European foreign trade and 30 percent of internal trade is carried out by sea, and that EU strategies have recognized four maritime transport corridors of European interest, two of which include Montenegro, which is considered an opportunity for the development of maritime and port activities and other related economic activities that should be seized.
These two corridors are called the South-Eastern European Motorway of the Sea, which connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian and Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, and the second is the arm of the South-West European - Western Mediterranean Motorway of the Sea, which connects Spain, France, Italy, including Malta and connects with the South-Eastern European Motorway of the Sea, including connections with the Black Sea.
The Port of Bar is now defined as a medium-developed seaport without a strict orientation towards a specific cargo group. The new Plan envisages the expansion of its capacities with the aim of developing in freight and passenger transport.
"In the coming period, continuous growth of maritime traffic is planned, which will confirm Montenegro as a maritime country, by strengthening and having a competitive maritime economy based on the general principles of sustainability. This includes a developed port infrastructure that will be connected to the hinterland by road and rail infrastructure. The tendency of development of modern ports in the world and in Europe is directed towards the concentration of goods and passenger traffic in a smaller number of larger ports, the concentration of different economic functions in the same port, the development of additional logistics services within the ports and additional logistics capacities for connecting with the hinterland on an intermodal basis," the Plan states.
At least a distribution center for the Balkans
The priority for the development of maritime transport is primarily the Port of Bar, which will now be connected to two highways, Bar - Boljare and Adriatic - Ionian, as well as to the modernized railway line Bar - Belgrade, which will "create an adequate infrastructural hinterland, with which it is only possible to fully valorize the potential of this port and develop multimodal transport."
"To this end, technological improvement of port capacities and the development of an international container terminal of regional importance are necessary to serve the wider gravitational zone of all cargo-manipulating units in the Balkans. The Port of Bar should become a distribution center with the function of concentration, consolidation, coordination and cooperation in transport. For this function, an international logistics center is needed as a goods-transport center with a wider distribution, storage and transit function. The port and logistics center should be based on the principles of the green economy," the Plan states.
The plan provides guidelines to extend and develop the existing quay at the Passenger Terminal, which will enable the reception of medium and large passenger ships and cruise ships (and combined cargo and passenger ships), as well as the extension of the operational quay at the dry and bulk cargo terminal.
The removal of Volujica Hill is planned to continue, in order to create new areas for the expansion of the Port for the transhipment and storage of dry and bulk cargo. The construction of a new container terminal is also planned.
"With the implementation of the project, Montenegro would have the opportunity to become the first port in Europe for ships coming from Asia, which will increase the further transport of goods by rail and road to Central and Eastern Europe and the last port in Europe on the way to the Far East, which, in addition to transport activities, will also bring the Port of Bar an opportunity to develop the production and packaging of goods in containers," the Plan states.
Unburden Kotor
The Port of Kotor is expected to develop its tourism and travel segments by increasing the number of berths and installing new buoys for mooring ships. It is also indicated that the capacity of this Port is insufficient, so it is proposed to redirect cruise ships to other locations in the bay.
"In the Port of Kotor, only moorings for luxury ships and yachts up to a maximum size of 150 m should be allowed," the Plan states.
The planning documentation plans the Port of Risan as a city and nautical tourism port.
"In order to further develop maritime transport, the rehabilitation and equipping of the Port of Risan is planned, which would be open to international traffic and intended for the development of cruise tourism. It is also necessary to foresee the construction of a supporting road that would connect the port with the Kotor - Risan main road and the construction of facilities and facilities for receiving passengers, a border crossing with supporting facilities and equipment," the Plan states.
It is stated that the Port of Zelenika, with its upgrade and modernization, could be an alternative solution for the Port of Kotor, and that coastal navigation needs to be developed in the interest of tourism.
Marina expansion
The former shipyard in Bijela is planned to be an international port with a service for the construction and repair of yachts and megayachts, recreational and leisure boats, and sports boats.
For the nautical tourism ports (marinas) of Budva, Luštica Bay, Porto Montenegro, Kumbor - Portonovi and Lazure in Meljine, their expansion is planned, as they will be "important for the development of tourism in the next planning period". As well as to enable new marinas alongside future large hotel and tourist centers along the coast.
"The development of nautical tourism requires the modernization of existing and the planning of new moorings and piers in accordance with natural conditions and with respect for restrictions from the aspect of protecting the sea and the marine environment," the Plan states.
The plan also envisages the possibility of introducing ferry ports in Novi, Rosa and Zelenica, and recommends environmentally friendly vessels on them and the existing Kamenari - Lepetani.
Make the Bojana River navigable along its entire course
The plan envisages that domestic and international passenger traffic can be organized on Lake Skadar, as well as a connection to the Adriatic Sea.
"With the Republic of Albania, preconditions should be created for connecting the Adriatic Sea, via the Bojana River with Lake Skadar, in a way that the Bojana River will be made navigable along its entire course, as it was until 1948. To accommodate vessels, the construction and modernization of piers in the towns of Ckla, Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevića is required, to a level that allows their use for larger capacity ships, in accordance with current environmental protection standards. Rural, local piers in Vranjina, Krnjice and other places should be adapted for the use of vessels needed by local communities that use them," the document states.
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