The ferry service connecting Budva and Dubrovnik is scheduled to commence on June 29, as announced by the Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs, Filip Radulović.
During a press briefing, Radulović expressed his pride in launching this maritime link, fulfilling the commitment made to citizens to introduce a new ferry route between the two cities for the summer season.
Highlighting the recent return of Budva Port to the city’s residents, Radulović outlined that the ferry line will start operating on June 29, with two daily sailings from both Budva and Dubrovnik.
He emphasized that this ferry service, operated by the 242-passenger capacity catamaran Antonija, will significantly alleviate traffic congestion at the border crossing between Herceg Novi and Dubrovnik, while also fostering further tourism growth in Budva.
Bojan Aljinović, the Executive Director of Kompas company, noted that Kompas has a long history of operating international passenger catamaran transport, having served for 40 years, connecting Istria with Venice.
The ferry line is designed to run twice daily between Dubrovnik and Budva, with morning departures from Dubrovnik, a brief stopover in Budva lasting approximately 30 to 45 minutes, followed by a return trip to Dubrovnik. The same schedule will apply in the afternoon.
Regarding ticket pricing, Aljinović provided a rough estimate, hoping that one-way tickets will cost €55, while daily return tickets will be priced at €69.
The plan is to operate the ferry service until the end of September, with a gradual reduction in the number of weekly sailings as September progresses.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced that the government’s recent decision to return Budva Port to the Public Maritime Domain has prompted immediate action to establish the ferry connection between Budva and Dubrovnik.
Spajić emphasized the importance of this development for the tourism sectors of Montenegro and Dubrovnik, aiming to enhance connectivity between Budva, a primary tourist market on the Montenegrin coast, and Dubrovnik, a key tourist destination in Croatia, thereby contributing to closer integration with the EU.
Spajić also mentioned ongoing efforts to establish another maritime connection, the Bar-Ancona line, catering to the diaspora and tourists from northern Italy.
He underscored the significance of these initiatives considering the challenges posed by narrow roads and traffic congestion.
Spajić hinted at the possibility of the Bar-Ancona line starting operations on July 3, with provisions for transporting buses, trucks, and passengers by boat.
The next meeting on this matter is scheduled for June 3, where remaining steps to be taken will be discussed.
Spajić concluded by stressing the importance of relieving traffic bottlenecks in Montenegro, particularly at border crossings, and expressed the urgency to address these issues promptly.
