The Ministry of Maritime Affairs distances itself from the scandalous "map" of the Bay of Kotor

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has distanced itself from the scandalous "map" of the Bay of Kotor that was published on Instagram two days ago as an illustration of the "Informative Guide for Safe Navigation in the Bay" created by the ministry.

This illustration was taken from Instagram by some media outlets two days ago, after which it became the subject of numerous comments and astonishment from citizens on social networks that shared it. The illustration was made to allegedly, through it, more easily explain to the public what the zone looks like in the 300-meter strip from the coast where the navigation speed is limited to a maximum of six knots, the rest of the bay's aquatorium where it is 10 knots, or where the so-called special corridors for planing are allegedly located where the maximum navigation speed is limited to 18 knots.

In the illustration, Boka Kotorska is shown without Topaljsko (Hercegnovo Bay) and the entrance to Boka between Cape Oštra and Arza, Herceg Novi has been "moved" east, to the coast of the Luštica peninsula, Lepetane north so that it "occupies" the position where Morinj is actually located, the islands of Gospa od Škrjela and Sveti Đorđe have disappeared from the aquatorium in front of Perast, but the Krtolj archipelago in the Tivat Bay has "grown" incredibly, which instead of the three truly existing islands and peninsulas (Školj, Stradioti and Prevlaka) on this map also has three more unidentified new islands. On the map, the Trojica Pass, which is located on Vrmac, is "dropped" to the very coast of the sea near Kotor to the area where in reality the Škaljari are located, the Kamenari were "moved" a few kilometers further north to the area of ​​the Turkish Cape in Veriga, while Tivat is drawn much further south than it is in reality - approximately to the area of ​​Kalardovo.

After "Vijesti" asked them to clarify this map and state who its author was and how it was created, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs distanced themselves from this controversial illustration, both in their responses to our newspaper and in a press release that they immediately sent to all media outlets.

"Regarding the map of the Bay of Kotor that appeared in certain media outlets and on social networks, which are linked to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, we inform the public that the aforementioned map was not created, published or authorized by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The map that is the subject of media allegations contains gross irregularities in the topographic, hydrographic and geographical representation of the Bay of Kotor, which is why it does not represent a credible representation of the area nor can it be used as an official or reference source of information," the department headed by Minister Filip Radulović announced.

They noted that the ministry "in order to inform citizens and participants in maritime traffic about the new navigation rules, has published on its Instagram page an exclusively illustrative information map that follows the provisions of the Regulation on Navigation Safety, Reporting and Management of Maritime Traffic."

"This is an infographic whose purpose is to simply and clearly present speed limit zones, navigation corridors and other information important for navigation safety, and not an official navigational or topographic map. Apparently, this infographic was clumsily and incorrectly reproduced via AI applications by certain media entities. Inadvertently or intentionally, the public was misled, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs was in a position to react to protect the integrity of the state body and the public interest," they announced, noting that "the official information map is available on the website of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, as well as through the Ministry's official accounts on social networks."

On this map, which truly reflects the true appearance of the Boka Bay, there are no topographic landmarks, but only the coastal and strait waters where the speed of navigation is limited to six knots are marked in purple, and the planing corridors are drawn where they really are – in the middle of the bay waters.