Bar-Bari-Bar line to be temporarily canceled again?

The only sea route between Montenegro and Europe, Bar-Bari-Bar, will be canceled once again on December 1, as the agreement between the Montenegrin state company Barska Plovidba and Croatia’s Jadrolinija, signed last summer, expires on that date.

The state and the funds have replaced their four representatives in the board of directors of Barska Plovidba, of which they are majority owners, and their task is to keep the two freight ships and attempt to renew the Bar-Bari-Bar line, which Montenegro lost last year after 52 years. The new board of directors is presided over by Captain Ljubo Kocovic, who says that he wouldn’t be in the company if he didn’t believe in its success.

– I am of the opinion that the company has potential, but certain requirements need to be met, primarily the strengthening of the technical and the commercial sector. We are counting on success. Members of the board of directors, Radojica Lazarevic and Dusan Djuric visited India, where our freight boat Bar is located, to extend the necessary certificates. This is also the plan for the Budva boat, so that the two freight boats might operate – Kocovic said and added that one of the priorities was to procure a passenger boat, because Montenegro deserves to have a maritime portal to Europe, through Bar to Bari.

Kocovic explains that the Dubrovnik boat, owned by Croatia’s Jadrolinija, will become operational by the end of November, when the Bar-Bari-Bar line is to be canceled once again.

– If we manage to buy a passenger boat, we could renew the line, and if not, the only thing we can do is to negotiate with foreign boat companies about the next year – Kocovic explains.

New line from Virpazar to Shkoder?

Kocovic says that there’s also a plan to procure two smaller used freight boats of around 3,000 tons each, for the purpose of cargo transport in the Adriatic. The establishment of the Virpazar-Shkoder line, which would make for an interesting tourist option, is also a possibility.

Jadrolinija Rijeka

Bar Bari Bar sea line

Barska Plovidba

Ljubo Kocovic

Radojica Lazarevic

Dusan Djurisic

Bar boat

Budva boat

Virpazar Shkoder line