The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has prepared a Draft Law on Inland Navigation

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has drafted a Draft Law on Inland Navigation, which for the first time comprehensively regulates the safety of navigation on the inland waters of Montenegro - Lake Skadar, Bojana, the Crnojevića River and other inland waterways.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs announced that inland navigation in Montenegro has not been regulated by a special law so far, but has remained within the framework of older regulations from the period of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

"With the adoption of the Law on Maritime Navigation Safety last year, the subject of maritime navigation was regulated in a modern way, while inland navigation was left without an appropriate legal framework. This draft fills that gap," the statement says.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs said that the Draft Law, among other things, prescribes technical requirements for ships, boats and floating structures on inland waters and regulates the conditions for obtaining authorizations and professional qualifications of the crew, in accordance with the acquis communautaire of the European Union (EU).

The draft law, as stated by that government department, introduces special navigation safety measures on Lake Skadar, including speed limits, a ban on water-jet powered vessels, and protection of the National Park ecosystem.

They said that the Draft Law establishes a River Information Service (RIS) for the purpose of modern supervision and management of water traffic and regulates the management of ports and docks, with the possibility of granting concessions, or public-private partnerships for investments in the port area.

"The Port Authority is hereby established as an organizational unit of the Ministry responsible for inspection supervision, search and rescue, and other tasks related to the safety of navigation on inland waters," the Ministry of Maritime Affairs stated.

They said that the adoption of the law also contributes to the process of harmonizing Montenegrin legislation with the EU acquis in this area, as a response to the growing volume of traffic and tourist activities on Lake Skadar.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs invited all interested members of the public - business entities, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and citizens, to participate in the public debate and submit comments and suggestions on the Draft Law.

The draft law, with an explanatory note, is available on the website of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.

Comments and suggestions can be submitted during the public hearing, in the manner and within the deadline published on the website of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.