Montenegro’s Public Maritime Management Company plans to spend €400,000 on purchasing a small luxury motor yacht (daily cruiser or sport cruiser) for official and protocol purposes. The decision has stirred controversy due to questions about the necessity of the new vessel, given that the state already owns a fast patrol boat used for protected marine area monitoring.
According to sources close to management, the yacht will be used for educational and scientific tours in protected areas, field activities with domestic and international institutions, and for hosting foreign delegations and potential investors. The purchase was included in the company’s 2025 procurement plan and is reportedly initiated by the company’s director, Mladen Mikijelj, following a proposal from the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, led by Minister Slaven Radunović.
The ministry claims the new vessel is needed because Montenegro currently lacks an adequate official yacht for state representation purposes, despite the navy having several vessels including the prestigious sailship “Jadran.”
Mikijelj and his assistant visited the international BOOT Düsseldorf boat show in Germany in January to explore suitable models within the €400,000 budget. Potential options include motor yachts 9 to 14 meters in length, such as models from Aquila, Axopar, Beneteau, Chaparral, and Sea Ray.
The purchase has raised questions among board members and the public, given the existing patrol boat acquired in 2023 for €170,000, intended for marine protected area control, which has similar operational purposes.
The Ministry and company emphasize the yacht’s role in enhancing Montenegro’s maritime representation, educational activities, and cooperation with strategic partners and investors.
