Montenegro’s Maritime Directorate Director Mladen Mikijelj reported that in nearly two years since taking over the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry line, the state has earned 20 million euros in revenue. Ferry traffic this year has increased by about 5% compared to the previous year.
He addressed public criticism regarding delayed beach preparations, stating that over 95% of beaches were ready before the summer season, with only a small portion (less than 5%) not fully equipped but still accessible to the public.
Mikijelj explained that previous tender procedures favored former users, limiting competition, but defended the current process where contracts are awarded only to bidders with genuine offers. Some tenders in Bar and Ulcinj were canceled due to suspicious bidding practices aimed at manipulating rankings, resulting in contract cancellations and forfeited guarantees.
Regarding investor Mohamed Alabar from the UAE, Mikijelj said he chose not to finalize contracts for seven of nine beaches after being charged guarantees. The state earned half a million euros in guarantee fees from this.
He emphasized that funds from beach leases—expected to reach 35 million euros—will be invested in improving Montenegro’s coastline infrastructure, a step not possible before due to limited budget capacity. Mikijelj expressed confidence in the judicial system to uphold fair legal procedures despite ongoing disputes.
