Kalimanj Bay Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Uvala Kalimanj, Kalimanj
Kalimanj is a small bay on the S shore of Tivat Bay, immediately W of Porto Montenegro and tucked in behind a low promontory that gives it a quiet, enclosed character quite different from the busier Tivat town anchorage to the NE. The bay has a local feel: mostly small Montenegrin powerboats on moorings, a small waterfront, and the afternoon shade of the hills behind. The holding on sandy-mud is reliable, the Bora shelter from the surrounding mountains is exceptional, and the proximity to Tivat town (0.8nm by dinghy or a 15-minute walk along the coastal path) makes provisioning easy. Kalimanj lacks the dramatic views or historical interest of other Tivat Bay anchorages, but it compensates with genuine tranquillity and excellent Bora protection — a useful overnight anchorage for boats that have already visited the main town quay area.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
42°25.7'N 18°41.0'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
sand, mud
Holding
Good holdingProtected From
N, NE, E, SE, S, W, NW
Exposed To
SW
Best Months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor.
Vignette Required
Yes — purchase at port of entry
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
55m appropriate for the main Kalimanj Bay anchorage in 3–5m. The compact bay limits swing — reduce to 40m in calm conditions with other boats present. The inner NE pocket (2–3m) warrants only a 40m radius. This anchorage is significantly quieter than the main Tivat town anchorage despite being less than 1nm away — the local, residential character keeps charter traffic away.
Bay main anchorage — sandy mud: 55m recommended — The main anchorage in 3–5m on sandy mud in the centre of the bay.
NE pocket — best shelter from SW: 40m recommended — The NE corner of Kalimanj Bay tucks behind the promontory that separates it from the main Tivat Bay — offering near all-round shelter.
Outer bay — additional swing room: 70m recommended — The outer part of Kalimanj Bay in 5–8m on mud — more swing room for larger vessels.
Anchoring Zones
Kalimanj Bay has 3 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics.
Zone 1: Bay main anchorage — sandy mud
- Depth: 3–6m
- Bottom: sand, mud
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W, NW
- Exposed to: SW
- Recommended alarm radius: 55m
The main anchorage in 3–5m on sandy mud in the centre of the bay. Good holding. The S shore of Tivat Bay gives slightly more afternoon shade than the Tivat town anchorage — the hills to the SW cast shadow by 16:00 in high summer. Shelter from Bora is excellent: the surrounding mountains make this one of the most protected positions in the bay. Some SW exposure from the bay mouth direction. Keep clear of local mooring buoys on the N shore.
Zone 2: NE pocket — best shelter from SW
- Depth: 2–4m
- Bottom: sand, mud
- Holding: Good holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W, SW, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 40m
The NE corner of Kalimanj Bay tucks behind the promontory that separates it from the main Tivat Bay — offering near all-round shelter. Sandy-mud in 2–3m. Good holding. Suitable for shoal-draft vessels or catamarans. The bay head here is calm enough that anchored boats often have completely flat water even when Bora gusts reach 25 knots in the outer bay. Very local feel — mostly Montenegrin boats on local moorings.
Zone 3: Outer bay — additional swing room
- Depth: 5–9m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, NW
- Exposed to: W, SW
- Recommended alarm radius: 70m
The outer part of Kalimanj Bay in 5–8m on mud — more swing room for larger vessels. Slightly more open to SW compared to the inner bay. Mud holding is excellent. A good position for boats that need more depth than the inner bay provides. Porto Montenegro is visible 0.8nm NE.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Kalimanj Bay is primarily sand and mud with reliable holding when properly set.
- Check for shellfish farm buoys before approaching. Orange buoys mark the farm perimeter — stay well clear and anchor only in the SE section of the bay.
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 3–6m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (42m chain at 6m depth).
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Mud and sand bottom sets well on the first attempt.
- Note ferry and superyacht wash. The Lepetane ferry and Porto Montenegro traffic create periodic wash — ensure you have adequate scope and use the scope calculator to confirm chain length.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Kalimanj Bay are feasible but require monitoring — the anchorage is exposed to SW winds.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 55m radius before going below. 55m appropriate for the main Kalimanj Bay anchorage in 3–5m. The compact bay limits swing — reduce to 40m in calm conditions with other boats present. The inner NE pocket (2–3m) warrants only a 40m radius. This anchorage is significantly quieter than the main Tivat town anchorage despite being less than 1nm away — the local, residential character keeps charter traffic away.
Excellent May–October. Very quiet in shoulder season. Even in peak July–August the anchorage rarely has more than 4–5 visiting yachts — the local boat moorings dominate the bay. A year-round option for vessels clearing in at Tivat and wanting immediate shelter without the town quay bustle.
Navigation Hazards
- Local mooring buoys in the N shore area — keep clear; their mooring lines extend underwater and may not be obvious; approach slowly and confirm the bottom is clear before dropping anchor.
- Sandy-mud holding is slightly less tenacious than pure mud — set the anchor with engine reverse and verify it is holding before going ashore.
- Shellfish farms begin approximately 0.5nm W — do not anchor further W into the main Tivat Bay W quadrant.
- In severe Bora (30–40 knots inside the bay), the bay mouth direction (SW) is slightly open — the bay head offers better Bora shelter than the outer anchorage area.
- Superyacht wash from Porto Montenegro operations (0.8nm NE) can occasionally reach Kalimanj Bay — set firmly.
Rules & Regulations
- Montenegro cruising permit (vignette): Mandatory for all foreign yachts. Porto Montenegro is a valid port of entry. From ~€89/month.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor.
- Maximum stay: 5 days
- Restrictions: Keep clear of local mooring buoys — these are private moorings for local boat owners. Do not anchor within 20m of the shore. No shellfish farms in Kalimanj Bay itself, but the farms in the W bay begin approximately 0.5nm W — do not proceed further W without caution.
- Shellfish farms: Do not anchor in W or NW Tivat Bay — active mussel/oyster farms with submerged lines.
For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Tivat town (0.8nm)
- Restaurant: None — nearest at Tivat town (0.8nm)
- Provisions: None on site — Tivat town (0.8nm)
Skipper's Tips
- Kalimanj is the best option when the main Tivat town anchorage is crowded in peak July–August season — it is close to town, has equivalent shelter, but sees far fewer visitors.
- The coastal path between Kalimanj and Tivat town passes through a pleasant waterfront park — an enjoyable morning walk for reprovisioning on foot.
- The NE pocket in 2–3m is one of the calmest spots in all of Tivat Bay — if your draft allows it, tuck in here for a truly flat overnight anchorage.
- Mornings in Kalimanj are noticeably peaceful — the local fishermen work their boats early and are gone by 07:00, leaving the bay to visiting sailors.
- For crew changes at Tivat airport, Kalimanj is actually slightly more convenient than the main town quay — a short taxi ride with no navigating around the busy town waterfront.
A note on this guide: Data has been researched from multiple sailing sources and is provided in good faith. Conditions — depth, holding, regulations — can change. Always check forecasts and current official charts before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Kalimanj Bay
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously and sounds a loud alarm the moment your boat drifts — even in Tivat Bay where superyacht wakes and ferry wash can move a well-anchored boat without warning.
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