In recent quarters, a myriad of marinas have gone through deep restructuring to strengthen their offering and compete for superyachts' attention. At the core of this pivotal moment for yachting infrastructure, however, stood Porto Montenegro, one of the first, purpose-built superyacht hubs.



The project started when Peter Munk, a Hungarian-born, Canadian businessman purchased a site in Montenegro for €23 million in 2007 with the purpose of building a superyacht marina that would rival mainstream destinations. With backing from LVMH Chairman, Bernard Arnault, Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska and Lord Jacob Rothschild, the Barrick Gold founder set out to develop the largest private-sector investment in the country.

Located near the coastal city of Tivat, Porto Montenegro's ambition was to become a homeport for some of the world's largest yachts by providing their crew and visiting owners with high end facilities. The development also included the construction of a strong ecosystem around the marina with condos, restaurants and a five star hotel.



By 2014, Munk was quoted saying that the combined value of the yachts in the marina were bigger than the GDP of Montenegro. Amongst its top members were yachts from the Golden Fleet, a series of vessels owned by the son of the late Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia with its 123-meter flagship Golden Odyssey.

When initially acquired by Munk and his partners, the site was a former military base with long, concealed concrete piers that had been used by the Serbian Navy for its submarines. Now featuring over 450 berths, with the possibility to welcome yachts of up to 250 meters in theory, the marina benefits from exemptions on fuel tax and excise charges that considerably drop down the costs of yacht maintenance.



The location for the MYBA Pop Up Superyacht show, Porto Montenegro saw the opening of its latest Pool Club Residences last summer with over 62 residences built directly overlooking the marina. These are serviced by the five star Regent Hotel.

Over its several years of development, Porto Montenegro caught the eye of new investors and in May 2016 it was confirmed that the development was acquired the Investment Corporation of Dubai, the city-state's investment arm. "The internationally renowned Porto Montenegro presents an opportunity for ICD to access a successful business with significant potential for expansion both in the marina and landside" His Excellency Mohammed Al Shaibani, Executive Director of ICD said at the time of the sale.



The change in ownership brings an even stronger backing to the thriving marina as ICD has already developed a set of hotel rooms directly opposite the Atlantis hotel on the Palm in Dubai and is a shareholder in New York's Mandarin Oriental as well as Washington D.C.'s W Hotel and Cape Town's One&Only.

Latest News

Nautor Swan to Debut New Swan 51 and Swan 128 Models at European Boat Shows
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First 54m Riva's Flagship Launched in Ancona
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46m Scintilla Maris Completes 11,000 Nautical Mile Shakedown Cruise
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Azimut Launches First Unit of Grande 30M at Viareggio Yard
Azimut has launched the first unit of the Grande 30M at its Viareggio shipyard. The new model is part of the shipyard’s Grande Series and will make its official debut at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival.The yacht’s exterior design is by Alberto Mancini, while the interiors have been created by the architecture studio m2atelier. This is the first collaboration between the two design teams. According to Azimut, the interior layout follows a design approach referred to as "Barefoot Luxury", developed by m2atelier for this model.The Grande 30M is also the first yacht to be fitted with the new mtu propulsion system from Rolls-Royce. It includes mtu engines and POD drives, a combination that reportedly provides 15% greater efficiency compared to conventional shaft line systems, with reductions in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.Azimut, founded in 1969 by Paolo Vitelli and part of the Azimut|Benetti Group, builds motor yachts from 42 to 144 feet across seven series. The company maintains production facilities in five Italian locations and one in Brazil, and has a global network of sales and service centres.Credits: Azimut
Apreamare Launches Refit Division for Sorrentine Gozzo Boats
Apreamare has announced the results of the first eight months of activity for its newly launched division, Apreamare Refit. The unit was established to provide restoration and modernization services for the brand’s traditional Sorrentine Gozzo boats.Located in a 3,000-square-meter facility next to the shipyard in Torre Annunziata, the refit division is dedicated exclusively to Apreamare vessels. The yard offers a range of services including the complete replacement of teak decks and swim platforms, hull repainting, upgrades to onboard systems, and interior renovations.According to the company, several refit projects have already been completed since the division’s launch, with additional contracts in negotiation or scheduled for the near future.Apreamare, which reports having over 2,000 boats in operation globally, aims to extend the service life of its vessels through this initiative while maintaining their original characteristics. Cataldo Aprea, President of Apreamare, stated: “The beauty of every Apreamare refit lies in our ability to preserve the original soul of our boats while addressing the evolving desires of those who live them. It's a work of listening, memory, and expert hands: a return to the most authentic essence of our naval art.”Founded in 1849, Apreamare remains one of Italy’s longstanding yachting brands and continues to focus on the traditional design and craftsmanship associated with the Sorrentine gozzo.Credits: Apreamare