The Port Authority of Kotor and Bar is one of the most important administrative and bureaucratic centers for seafarers. As such, they should provide quality and organized service, but we are witnesses that this is not the case, especially in Kotor, announced today from the Union of Seafarers of Montenegro.
The representatives of the Union had a meeting with the port captain in Kotor, Bruno Brkanović, who they say, "found hard at work, helping the counter worker to reduce the number of seafarers waiting."
"This is not a rare case, and Captain Brkanović is often in such a role. The situation is worsened by the illness of one of the employees, and currently the port captain covers that position as well, although he is formally on his annual vacation, but forced to "step in" to get the job done. The bad condition and dilapidation of the interior of the building was recorded, which is strange and unacceptable, knowing that it is one of the most liquid companies in the territory of the municipality of Kotor, where sailors, owners of boats, yachts, and ships bring huge sums of money to the state in the form of payment slips every day," they announced. from the Seamen's Union.
They point out that currently there are ten employees in the Port Authority of Kotor, of which there is only one counter worker who is the only one in charge of all interested parties.
"When you take into account the fact that the Port Authority of Kotor has issued and takes care of several thousand seaman's booklets, and that each of them requires a certain number of certificates, as well as its administrative obligations towards ships, yachts, boat managers, it is clear that "crowds and stoppages are an inevitable result", say the Union of Seafarers, adding that even such a bad and overstretched state of capacity in that body of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Transport further complicates the periods when seafarers take their class exams before the examination committee of the Port Authority, i.e. when large passenger ships sail, so they should perform a series of administrative formalities in order for them to receive so-called free traffic.
"The person in charge of the seafarers at the counter, due to the lack of manpower, is forced to close it, and go around the ship to the mooring or anchor for the delivery of the document on free traffic, which can take up to one hour per ship, i.e. 3-4 hours a day, depending on the number of ships in the port of Kotor. Providing the services of only one counter worker in a company whose biggest job is serving thousands of seafarers is unacceptable to say the least. Because of this, almost daily crowds and queues that sometimes stretch even outside the establishment are a frequent occurrence. When asked why certain measures are not taken to improve the current situation and return it to the state of a year ago, we received a promise from the harbor master that work is being done on it, and the improvement is expected quickly by hiring additional staff," the Union explained, noting that therefore, in that professional association of seafarers, they decided to donate equipment to the port authorities in Kotor and Bar that will help them respond more efficiently to the needs of seafarers who come to those state institutions for administrative reasons, so the Union of Seafarers will soon donate the most modern copier to the port authorities in Kotor.
"Members of the Board of Directors of the Union of Seafarers, Captain Nikola Peranović and Captain Nikola Tučević expressed their willingness to help in all projects that will lead to the improvement and improvement of the efficiency of the work of the Captain's office." - concluded the announcement, noting that they also hope for a quick solution to the problem with the shortage personnel in that institution.
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