The Development Bank of Montenegro has hired the Belgrade company "Promezzia", which, with a team of professors and experts, is conducting an extraordinary technical inspection of the ski lifts at the Savin Kuk ski resort, while the technical assessment of their installations could soon be carried out by the renowned Austrian company "WPK Austria".
This was officially told to "Vijesti" by Razvojna Banka, which owns the "Durmitor Tourist Center".
On December 20th, an accident occurred at the ski resort there, killing a German citizen, a thirty-four-year-old man. Sebastian Hertner and his wife was seriously injured Hanah Espandschied (30). The accident occurred at around 1:10 p.m., when a basket carrying two tourists collided with another one that was empty. Hertner was killed when he fell out, and his wife was seriously injured.
The Development Bank emphasized that two surface cable cars (anchors) on Savin Kuk already have a certificate of technical correctness and have been put into trial operation, while the fate of the remaining ones - including the one on which the foreign tourist was killed - will depend on the results of an extraordinary technical inspection and additional technical evaluation of the entire system. After that, they say, they will inform the public about the possibility of their operation during this winter season.
The Belgrade company "Promezzia" is already doing its part of the work, while the tender for providing a technical assessment of the vertical transport installations at this ski resort was announced on January 9. Only "WPK Austria" submitted a bid, which, if selected for the price of 16.274 euros, will have ten days to prepare a report.
The Development Bank emphasized that only companies that hold a permit, accreditation, license, or certificate according to the "EN 17020" standard could participate in this tender, in order to obtain reputable companies that apply the highest standards of competence and quality as bidders.
"The working team, which was formed within the Development Bank, has previously worked, among other things, on identifying key problems in the area of safety procedures and operational protocols, and planning and implementing urgent measures to ensure the safe operation of the "Savin Kuk" ski resort. In this regard, an extraordinary technical inspection of the ski lifts was organized, and with the aim of ensuring additional safety and security of the ski resort, a public procurement procedure was announced for the provision of technical evaluation services for vertical transport installations at the Savin Kuk location, Žabljak. The announced public procedure received one bid from the renowned bidder, WPK Austria GmbH, which meets all the required conditions," the Development Bank stated.
As they added, as part of an extraordinary technical inspection carried out by "Promezzia" from Belgrade, consisting of eminent professors and experts in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering, it was determined that the two surface cable cars (anchors) are technically sound and have recently been put into trial operation.
"Preparations are underway to continue the extraordinary technical inspection of cable cars with baskets, the implementation of which, due to the complexity and scope of the terrain, and weather conditions, will require a longer period of time," the Development Bank pointed out.
They are expecting a new director soon.
A few days after the accident at Savin Kuk, the director of the "Durmitor Tourist Center" Marinko Purić He resigned from that position. When asked when they would appoint a new director, the Development Bank said that the position would be filled in accordance with the law, as soon as possible.
They also claim that they are taking every step to ensure the continued operation of this company, due to its importance for the tourism industry of the Municipality of Žabljak and the Durmitor region, and that their work team had previously been in the field, familiarized themselves with the situation, and prepared the measures and activities necessary for the company to continue its operations.
"The goal is to provide a technical evaluation of the complete system: drive, brakes, rope tensioning device and ropes, vehicles, station and route structures (to the extent available), control system, as well as verification of documentation of previous reconstruction and modernization, maintenance and repairs, performed regular and special inspections of the cable car system at the Savin Kuk ski resort. Our goal is for the "Durmitor Tourist Center" to continue operating in a safe, organized and sustainable environment, with special attention paid to the protection of employees, improving work processes and strengthening internal procedures. The long-term goal is the strategic development of the company through improving infrastructure, modernization of the tourist offer and the implementation of standards that guarantee a high level of safety and quality of services for all visitors," emphasized the Development Bank.
The analysis "Concept of a Strategy for the Development of Winter Tourism in Montenegro", published in 2011 with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), states that all lifts and cable cars at the Savin Kuk ski resort in Žabljak are, without exception, in a deplorable condition and barely meet international safety requirements. Michael SteinbachThe document also states that, if the future of the ski area is to be secured, it is necessary to invest in completely new, modern ski lifts, because in such a state, the ski area will not be able to function for long.
The case regarding the accident on Savin Kuk was opened by the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Pljevlja, while at the prosecutor's order, experts will determine the cause of the skidding of the basket on the "Savin Kuk 2" cable car.
The Development Bank emphasized that two surface cable cars already have a certificate of technical correctness and have been put into trial operation, while the fate of the remaining ones, including the one where the foreign tourist was killed, will depend on the results of an extraordinary technical inspection and additional technical evaluation of the entire system.
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