The Government passed the Decision on the establishment of the National Search and Rescue Committee at Sea (SAR), which will not include the Assistant Director of the Maritime Safety and Port Management Authority (UPSUL). Žarko Lukšić - probably the most trained and experienced people in the field.
UPSUL's assistant director for the Navigation Safety Sector has many years of experience as chief of search and rescue at sea. He led many search and rescue operations over the past few years in Montenegrin and international waters in the southern Adriatic, as well as multi-day search operations for the bodies of drowned people in our waters, such as the boy who died in January last year in Herceg Novi, mainly a Moldovan tourist who drowned near Sutomore in October last year.
The Department for SAR UPSUL, which Lukšić led only in 2022, had 29 responses to calls for help in its area of responsibility and 10 emergency responses to the so-called MEDICO calls for the provision of emergency medical assistance to vessels in the southern Adriatic. During those actions, 64 people and 10 vessels that were endangered were saved, and only one person drowned.
Despite this and his expertise, Lukšić was not appointed to the new National Board, but a position was found for an employee of the ministry dealing with the development of the north, whose responsibilities have no point of contact with the developments at sea.
This action of the Government caused disbelief and astonishment in maritime and expert circles, where the undivided opinion is that the National Board cannot function effectively without the expertise and experience of Lukšić.
The Government appointed the members of the National Board on Thursday Maja Mijušković, Acting General Director of the Maritime Directorate of the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, who will also be the president of that body, the director of UPSUL Haris Kusic, commander of the Croatian Navy, frigate captain Milan Jevtović, acting assistant director of the Police Administration - Border Police Sector Milutin Vasiljevića, Director General of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue of the MUP Miodrag Bešović, an independent consultant in the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North Dina Skarep, an independent advisor in the Directorate for Health Care Quality Control and Improvement, Introduction of New Medical Technologies and Healthcare Accreditation of the Ministry of Health Drazen Ljumović, director of the Air Navigation Safety Sector at the Civil Aviation Agency Ivan Šćekić and harbor captains, in Bar Predrag Ratković, that is, in Kotor Mirko Fuštić.
She was appointed secretary of the National Board Darinka Joksimović, independent consultant in the Directorate of Maritime Safety and Port Management.
The mandate of the president, members and secretaries of the National Board lasts four years.
Numerous trainings abroad
Lukšić is a trained seafarer and a former radio operator who sailed on transoceanic merchant ships, and since 1992 he has been working in today's UPSUL. He graduated from the Maritime Faculty in Kotor, where he obtained the title of polytechnic specialist in maritime affairs. He has many years of experience in the positions of chief of search and rescue at sea, that is, chief of maritime traffic supervision and control in UPSUL, he completed numerous specialist trainings abroad, where, among other things, he obtained the SAR SMC (Search Mission Coordinator) diploma. at the managerial level. He was appointed to several national and international working groups dealing with sea surveillance and safety at sea, and he was also a member of project teams in five IPA and five Horizon 2020 scientific projects through which the system of surveillance and control over maritime traffic in Montenegro was significantly improved. and the waters of the southern Adriatic, that is, our national system for SAR at sea.
Lukšić is, among other things, a "focal point", i.e. a contact person in front of Montenegro for the Coastal State in the European Maritime Safety Agency EMSA, as well as an alternative "focal point" for REMPEC (Regional Center for Emergency Response in Cases of Sea Pollution).
Numerous tasks prescribed
The tasks of the National Board are to monitor the application, improve and propose amendments to the National Search and Rescue Plan at sea; proposing the financial framework for regular work, approving the report on the search and rescue operation at sea prepared by UPSUL, proposing the conclusion and monitoring of the implementation of international cooperation agreements, proposing the conclusion of cooperation agreements with owners of assets that regularly or occasionally participate in search and rescue operations at sea sea, if there are any, approving standard operating procedures that coordinate the work of subjects and individuals participating in actions, monitoring and improving the work of employees in the Search and Rescue Department of UPSUL, proposing measures to improve the search and rescue system, proposing training programs (basic and supplementary) for persons involved in the coordination and implementation of search and rescue, as well as acceptance of the exercise plan and analysis of the conducted exercises.
Bonus video:
