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What the new Law on Ports brings to berth users in Bar Marina was presented by the President and a member of the Association of Marina Berth Users, Ivan Dabović and Ćazim Alković, in the program “Thursday Promenade” on Radio Bar.
What does the new law, particularly in the part concerning marinas, mean not only for members of your association but also for all other berth users?
Alković: The law was adopted on December 31, 2025, in the Parliament of Montenegro and contains several provisions that are of particular interest to us, as they define the role of our organization and berth users in the Marina.
It is in our interest for everything to be clearly defined, leaving no room for ambiguity, so that it is fully clear what belongs to us and what activities we are not permitted to carry out in the Marina.
Article 10 of the Law introduces a division of ports into operational and communal sections.
This is important for us because it clearly defines the communal section that belongs, so to speak, to ordinary citizens of Bar — those who are not wealthy yacht owners but who love the sea and own small boats.
The law specifies what falls under the communal section, including berths for vessels registered for commercial purposes, but more importantly for us — berths for boats registered for personal use, sport, and recreation.
The law also introduces clearer provisions stating that berth agreements will be concluded exclusively with the owner of the vessel.
We know that in the past there were various arrangements and combinations regarding this issue, but now, those who love the sea will have their own boat and their own berth — everything clearly regulated.
Another very important provision, especially in light of last year’s Rulebook drafted by the Marina, is that priority for obtaining a berth will now be given to vessel owners who have residence or registered headquarters within the local municipality where the port is located.
An additional significant change is the legal obligation to publicly publish the list of Marina users, as there have always been questions about who holds berths and whether some individuals have two or three berths.
Public waiting lists will also be published for those awaiting a berth, as there are currently more than one hundred people who would like to secure a communal berth in our Marina.
None of these legal provisions pose any issue for those who operate regularly and make efforts to maintain what we have there honestly.
Some members of our association have been berth users since the very founding of the Marina. Few of us have had a berth for less than ten years — personally, I have been keeping my contracts with the Marina for 22 years.
Judging by your reactions, has this law brought a welcome dose of optimism for 2026?
Dabović: Yes, although of course no law is perfect, and we do have a few remarks.
To clarify, the final provisions of the law state that the Government is required, within 12 months, to adopt additional by-laws that will likely clarify certain ambiguities.
Specifically, the law stipulates that the Government must establish a National Ports Council consisting of 11 members, one of whom will come from the NGO sector.
One part of the law states that the Ministry will regulate the criteria for exercising the right to a berth in the communal section of a port. This immediately raises concerns for us that rules for allocating berths in marinas may be prescribed centrally from Podgorica, even though not all marinas are the same.
We would certainly like to be involved in that process, if possible.
We will ask the relevant Ministry about the criteria for membership in the National Council and seek clarification regarding certain provisions that remain unclear to us. After that, we will draw conclusions and address the public accordingly.
Source: Bar Info
