This morning, the Mia ferry of the Italian company Adria Ferries docked at Pier V of the Port of Bar, officially reopening the ferry route Ancona-Bar-Durres after a long hiatus.
The Italian ferry brought six cars, one camper, one trailer, two minibuses, a small truck, and 27 passengers, including Ćazim Alković, the Chairman of the Board of Bar Shipping Company.
During July, the AF Mia will operate twice a week, instead of the initially planned three times.
Executive Director of Bar Shipping Company, Boris Mihailović, and Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Transport representative, Nikola Marku, emphasized the significance of this route both economically and culturally. Marku highlighted, “This marks the beginning of renewing old friendships and something that will bring only good to future generations.”
Present at Pier 5 this morning were Bar Municipality President Dušan Raičević and Municipal Assembly President Branislav Nenezić.
“It’s a truly beautiful sight from the waters of the Bar port, alongside the now traditional cruise ships that continuously visit our port. For the first time this year, the shores of Montenegro and Italy are connected, enabling passenger traffic after a two-year pause. I am confident that this is a harbinger of a brighter future and the realization of a dream for many Bar residents to reconnect Bar and Bari with the traditional maritime route, which was a window to the world for us all in Bar and Montenegro,” emphasized Raičević.
The Mia ferry, on the Ancona-Bar-Durres route, will operate twice a week until September. Regarding the potential reopening of the Bar-Bari route, Executive Director Boris Mihailović estimated that “reviving the route is a way to revive the maritime path, demonstrating that there is still interest in this sea route and the re-establishment of the traditional Bari-Bar line.”
“Our goal is to revitalize it in the coming period,” Mihailović concluded decisively.
