Six Months of Montenegro’s New Maritime Safety Framework

July 21, 2026.

Six Months of Montenegro’s New Maritime Safety Framework

 Source: Abaco's archive

The Law on Safety of Maritime Navigation (LSMN), in force since January 2026, introduces a series of important innovations compared to the previous framework. Now, more than six months after the LSMN was enacted, Montenegro’s maritime sector is seeing its positive practical effects along with adoption of the key rulebooks.

Main novelties introduced by LSMN are as follows:

• Broader definition of ships: all vessels authorized to carry more than 12 passengers are now classified as ships.
• Passenger transport: public passenger transport is no longer regulated under this law, narrowing its scope to maritime navigation only.
• Navigation restrictions and vessel speed: unlike the previous law, speed limits and coastal approach rules are no longer embedded in the Law itself, just in the part dealing with respective fines. Instead, they are regulated by the new Rulebook on Navigation Safety, Reporting and Maritime Traffic Management (more details below).
• Maritime Single Window: the earlier provisions implementing the FAL Convention are now enhanced to fully align Montenegro with the EU standards, namely Regulation (EU) 2019 1239 of 20 June 2019 establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment.
• Abandoned vessels: LSMN changes definition of the abandoned vessel and some aspects of its treatment, for purpose of reducing risks to navigation and the environment. While the earlier law treated abandonment as a legal presumption, tied to the departure of the crew and the shipowner’s failure to man the vessel within eight days, the new law defines abandonment as a matter of factual dereliction, i.e. voluntary and permanent relinquishment by the owner. It further transfers competence from the Maritime Safety Administration to the Harbour Master Office in determining the status of the vessel, assigns the duty of initiating judicial sale to the authorized representative of the port and expressly includes environmental protection among the grounds for urgent forced sale of an abandoned vessel.
• Boat regulations: The Law introduces novelties in relation to the small boats, including the rule that personal use boats, whether owned by individuals or companies, are strictly limited to use by the owner, family, employees, or authorized persons and cannot be used for passenger transport. Also, it is noteworthy that all small boats that are permanently or predominantly located or operated in Montenegro’s internal waters and territorial sea must be entered in the boat register of Montenegro, regardless of the owner’s residence or seat (similar provisions already existed in the 2004 Regulation on Boats, but they were not implemented in practice).
• AIS obligations: Passenger ships, irrespective of size, and all ships other than passenger ships of 300 gross tonnage (GT) and above engaged on international voyages and calling at ports in Montenegro or exercising the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea of Montenegro, shall be fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) in accordance with the requirements of Chapter V of the SOLAS Convention. In addition, all vessels flying the Montenegrin flag and navigating in the internal waters and territorial sea of Montenegro shall be equipped with an AIS and shall ensure that the system remains continuously operational while underway. By way of exception, small boats registered for private use and owned by natural persons, as well as all boats up to 5 metres in length that are not fitted with a propulsion engine, are exempt from the obligation to carry AIS equipment.
• Recognized organizations: more detailed provisions on role and authorisations of the recognized organizations and its relationship with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
• Flag state responsibilities: enhanced inspection and compliance duties strengthen Montenegro’s credibility as a responsible flag state.
• Electronic registers: new public registers for seafarers, vessels and yachts improve transparency and accessibility.
• Mandatory use of tugs in Boka Bay: the new framework introduces the mandatory use of tugboat escort assistance for a vessel with a length of 100 metres in the Bay of Kotor has also been introduced as a key safety measure, further enhancing navigational safety in this environmentally and operationally sensitive area.
• Mandatory Martitime Study: For all developments and interventions in the maritime domain, including the internal waters, territorial sea and continental shelf of Montenegro, which are covered by spatial planning documents, the investor is required to prepare a Maritime Study demonstrating that the proposed project will not compromise the safety of navigation and will not result in pollution of the marine environment. The investor shall prepare and submit such Maritime Study to the Ministry competent for maritime affairs for approval prior to obtaining the relevant planning documents or spatial planning approvals, or prior to any change in the designated use of a port, port basin or terminal.
• A Stronger Enforcement Regime: Penalties for maritime offences have been significantly increased, while the frequency of inspection and enforcement activities has been enhanced to further strengthen safety and compliance at sea.
• Seafarers on yachts: mandatory financial guarantees are introduced, applying MLC standards to Montenegrin flagged yachts.

Since its enactment, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has issued set of rulebooks which recently entered into force, that operationalize the above provisions. The most important ones are as follows:

• Rulebook on Navigation Safety, Reporting and Maritime Traffic Management

This piece of legislation which has recently enacted requires special attention as it sets out the rules for navigation in Montenegro’s internal waters and territorial sea, including navigation lights and marks within the traffic routing system. It regulates the control and management of maritime traffic, the duties and responsibilities of the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), specifies reporting obligations, detailed measures for equipping ships, procedures for recording data in the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) and the ship information that must be submitted upon entry into or departure from Montenegrin waters. Importantly, it regulates vessel speed restrictions and traffic control measures and harmonizes communication and SAR cooperation with EU IMO standards. The Rulebook integrates the EU framework on vessel traffic monitoring, reporting and the Maritime Single Window, ensuring Montenegro’s maritime safety regulations are harmonized with European standards.

The most significant aspects which shall be known to the public are those that, despite opposition from local boat owners operating in the region, the Rulebook places the protection of maritime safety and the environment as the paramount and explicitly forbids access of motorized boats to the Blue Cave. It precisely defines safe bathing zones, speed restrictions and special navigation regimes in high frequency areas such as the Verige and Kumbor strait.

A major novelty is the introduction of designated corridors for higher speed navigation of speedboats and similar craft, allowing speeds up to 18 knots in the central parts of the Bay of Kotor. This measure enables tourist and passenger tours to proceed without endangering swimmers or other maritime traffic participants.

• Regulation on Training, Ranks and Authorizations of Seafarers

This regulation defines seafarer ranks and authorizations, training and examination requirements, in accordance with the STCW Convention, renewal and issuance procedures and record keeping of certificates. It sets standards for maritime schools and training centres regarding equipment, staff and quality systems and regulates examination commissions, revocation of approvals and the Compliance Commission. It also establishes the Seafarers’ Register, reporting obligations to the European Commission and requirements for boat operators, including training, exams and certification.

• Regulation on Life and Work of Seafarers

The Regulation implements further the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), ensuring fair contracts, regulated working hours, medical care, repatriation rights and adequate living conditions onboard Montenegrin flagged ships. This regulation transposes Council Directive 2009 13 EC (implementing the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention agreement between ECSA and ETF) and Council Directive 1999 63 EC (on the seafarers’ working time agreement between ECSA and FST).

Meanwhile, the sector is awaiting the adoption of new technical rules for statutory certification of ships, which will directly incorporate IMO conventions and codes, further strengthening Montenegro’s compliance framework and its role of a flag state.

For shipowners, operators and maritime professionals, these reforms bring both compliance challenges and opportunities for streamlined operations. The emphasis on electronic registers, AIS obligations, vessel speed regulation and VTS oversight positions Montenegro as a modern maritime jurisdiction, better integrated into European and international systems.

Abaco Ltd Bar actively participated in the public consultation process on Draft LSMN, both individually and through the Montenegrin Maritime Law Association (Abaco contributes to the Draft Law on Safety of Navigation). We are pleased that our main proposals were accepted, ensuring the law remains focused on maritime navigation and provides clearer distinctions between flag, coastal and port state jurisdictions.

In essence, Montenegro has taken a decisive step forward in maritime safety and governance, strengthening its role in international shipping while safeguarding the rights and welfare of seafarers. At the same time, the Draft Law on Inland Navigation is currently under public consultation, with the public call published on 10 July. With this, Montenegro is surely advancing toward the closure of the important Chapter 14:Transport Policy in its ongoing EU integration process.

---

---