Jadran sailing ship celebrates 93rd anniversary amid ownership debate

The sailing ship ‘Jadran’, a training vessel of the Montenegrin Navy, is celebrating its 93rd anniversary. To mark the occasion, a series of commemorative activities are being held in Tivat and the Bay of Kotor, including exhibitions, open house days, and a traditional sailing regatta.

Built in Hamburg in 1933 for the Royal Yugoslav Navy, the vessel has served as a symbol of maritime tradition for decades. However, its anniversary coincides with an ongoing debate regarding its ownership. While local NGOs in Boka Kotorska have petitioned the Montenegrin government to ensure the ship remains in Montenegro and is not handed over to Croatia, some voices suggest otherwise.

Writer Božidar Proročić has expressed support for returning the ship to Croatia, arguing that ‘Jadran is not an authentic symbol of Montenegrin maritime statehood’ because the vessel was commissioned before Montenegro existed as an independent state. He contends that the ship’s presence in Montenegro is a consequence of the dissolution of Yugoslavia and suggests that Croatia’s claims are historically stronger.