UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014: Porto Montenegro has completed the latest phase of its marina extension. It has 150 additional berths, bringing the total to 400. Eighty-seven megayachts up to 590’6” (180 meters) can be accommodated.
Read on for the original article, which details the primary features of Porto Montenegro.
Porto Montenegro marina, which recently began promotional efforts for the U.S. market, has embarked on a planned expansion announced early last year. By this summer, Porto Montenegro marina expects to have 430 berths, up from 250.
The marina sits in Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s on grounds of a former naval shipyard in Tivat, with deep water. The shipyard stopped operations when the former Yugoslavia broke apart and was purchased by a Canadian businessman and his partners in 2006. They envisioned transforming it into a megayacht marina with luxury residences and resort amenities like an Olympic-size pool (below). Porto Montenegro marina opened in 2009 with 85 berths, as the first phase of several slip roll-outs.
Last year, the developers of Porto Montenegro marina revealed capacity would rise from 245 berths to 490 in mid-2014. While a planned expansion, it’s also timed right. Last summer, the marina was, according to its owners, at or just above capacity essentially all season. A waiting list had to be created, too. Therefore, as stated above, the total number of slips by summertime will rise, though to 430 vs. the originally announced 490. However, they will accommodate megayachts to 246 feet (75 meters). The smallest berth then, as now, will be 39 feet (12 meters).
Megayacht berths are the focus for the future. By 2016, Porto Montenegro marina expects to have 145 total slips for yachts of 82 feet (25 meters) and larger. Of them, 50 will be for megayachts measuring 148 feet (45 meters) and larger. That will make Porto Montenegro marina one of the leading megayacht facilities in the Med and the world.
Further plans are in the works. A more modern fueling station is being constructed. Duty-free fuel is a major attraction for waterborne visitors. A refit and repair facility is also being planned. It’s worth noting that the tax on basic goods and marina and tourist services is capped at seven percent. VAT is also 17 percent, versus 20 percent in other parts of Europe.
Leave a Reply