Crnogorska Plovidba -

: Delivered on August 31, 2012. Built with identical specifications, holding a deadweight capacity of 35,000 tons and measuring 179.9 meters in length. Technical and Operational Profile

Then, disaster struck. On June 15, 2025, the Kotor was detained in the port of Savannah, Georgia, by the U.S. Coast Guard. The inspection revealed a total of nine procedural and technical deficiencies, including a failure in the safe steering system caused by defects in the main and auxiliary engines. The ship remained stuck in the U.S., racking up daily costs that threatened to exceed its market value. Minister Radulović publicly declared that all legal mechanisms were exhausted and that the government could no longer help the company. By September, the company’s total debt was estimated at €37.3 million, including €33.8 million owed directly to the state for its guarantees.

(Note: The fleet composition changes due to sales and purchases; however, the company consistently maintains 4–6 owned vessels, often supplemented by chartered tonnage.) crnogorska plovidba

Unlike the massive fleets of Greek or Japanese giants, Crnogorska Plovidba operates a lean, modern fleet. Their strategy is "quality over quantity." Their vessels typically fall into the Handysize and Supramax categories (vessels carrying between 25,000 and 60,000 deadweight tons – DWT).

: The company has historically struggled with debt repayment, specifically a $55 million loan from the Chinese Exim Bank used to purchase its ships in 2012, which the state has largely had to cover as a guarantor. Operational Integration : Delivered on August 31, 2012

The salt-crusted hull of the groaned as it pulled away from the bustling docks of Shanghai, its deep blue paint reflecting the early morning light. For Captain Marko, standing on the bridge, the departure felt like more than just another voyage; it was a homecoming for a piece of Montenegro.

Supporting Montenegro's port operations and maritime logistics. On June 15, 2025, the Kotor was detained

(Dvadesetprvi Maj): Delivered on August 31, 2012 (35,000 DWT).

The story of Crnogorska plovidba is a cautionary tale of what can happen when strategic national assets are mismanaged, when state guarantees are provided without a viable business plan, and when political infighting replaces sound economic governance. What began as a hopeful venture to re-establish Montenegro’s maritime presence ended in financial ruin, international embarrassment, and a public scandal. The company that was once the pride of Kotor now serves as a stark reminder of the high cost of failure, with its future—and the fate of its remaining employees—hanging in an uncertain balance while its legacy is one of a missed opportunity, a fleet sold for scrap, and a debt that will likely never be repaid. The company’s final report shows a total capital that is negative by tens of millions of euros, with no path back to profitability in sight. The ghost of Crnogorska plovidba will haunt the Montenegrin maritime sector for years to come.

Both vessels feature a length of 179.9 meters and a breadth of 28.4 meters. They were designed to transport various bulk cargos, utilizing their size flexibility to dock at ports inaccessible to larger Panamax or Capesize ships. Fleet Structure and Operations

is a state-owned joint-stock shipping enterprise that represents one of the most economically critical and politically debated maritime organizations in modern Balkan history. Established on February 26, 2004 , with headquarters in the historic seafaring town of Kotor, Montenegro, the company was conceived to revive the proud maritime traditions of Boka Bay following the collapse of Yugoslavia’s state shipping giants.