All ferry lines from the Montenegrin Port of Bar to Italy and Albania have been suspended after part of the pier at the passenger terminal in Bar collapsed.
Croatian Jadrolinija and Italian Adria Ferries, whose ferries operate on these routes, have canceled until further notice all trips to Italy - Bar–Bari and Bar–Ancona. The Barska Plovidba website officially announced that they will not depart from Bari to Bar on August 5th and 12th.
The trips of the Italian ferry "AF Mia" from Ancona, via Bar, to Durres in Albania have also been canceled.
For passengers who have already purchased tickets, the Barska Plovidba company announced that alternative transportation to Durres or Dubrovnik (Croatia) will be organized, stating that a refund is possible.
These lines were contracted until the end of the summer season.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs did not comment.
How did the damage occur?
According to a statement from the Port of Bar, the collapse occurred on July 31, after the ship "AF Mia" left the port.
It is suspected that the damage was caused by the operation of the ferry's propeller.
"An on-site inspection by experts from the Port of Bar determined damage and the appearance of two openings filled with seawater, the approximate dimensions of which are about 15 x 15 meters," the statement said.
Although the method of mooring the ship was previously agreed upon with the authorities, it is suspected that at some points the ferry came closer to the shore than the minimum permitted distance, which further compromised the stability of the wall.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs ordered the Port of Bar, as the concessionaire, to conduct an urgent inspection and damage assessment.
The Port Authority will decide on the further use of the berths.
Passengers notified by email, are on their own
Passengers were informed about the cancellation of the lines via email, with the explanation that these were extraordinary circumstances, namely the collapse of the pier in the Port of Bar and the decision of the Port Authority to suspend traffic.
The Jadrolinija email states that, as an alternative, departure from Bari to Dubrovnik was offered, instead of Bar.
The editorial staff of Radio Free Europe was contacted by Mirjana, one of the passengers who had a ticket from Bari to Bar, from where she planned to continue her journey by train to Belgrade.
"We were supposed to return from Bari to Bar tomorrow, the ticket was purchased through Jadrolinija. A few days earlier, we received an email that part of the port had collapsed, without clear details. Instead of returning to Bar, we would be transferred to Dubrovnik, without help with transportation to Bar, accommodation..." says Jovana.
He adds that Jadrolinija did not organize transportation from Dubrovnik to Bar.
In addition, she fears that her accommodation reservation and possibly her train ticket will be lost.
"We called the train station in Bar, asked them to move our payment date, but they said they could only do that if we brought them the ticket in person, which of course we can't do, because, as we said, we are physically disabled."
She says she sent an email with a request but doesn't know if they will accommodate her.
It is not known when traffic will be restored.
It is unknown how long it will take to repair the damaged coast and when traffic will be restored.
Port infrastructure, including docks, is state-owned.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Maritime Safety and Port Management Administration are responsible for the rehabilitation.
These institutions have not commented.
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