Porto Montenegro Outer Anchorage Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Porto Montenegro anchorage, Tivat outer anchorage, PM approach
The free anchorage outside Porto Montenegro's fairway is one of the most strategically useful anchorages in Montenegro — close enough to use all of Porto Montenegro's excellent shore facilities (fuel dock, WiFi, restaurants, laundry, chandlery) by dinghy, but without paying berth fees that can reach €100–€500+/night for a standard yacht depending on LOA and season. Porto Montenegro was developed from a former Yugoslav navy base and is now one of the finest marinas in the Mediterranean — 481 berths with depths to 16m, capable of accommodating vessels up to 250m, with a comprehensive village of restaurants, a hotel, a yacht club, and full services. The anchorage itself is in 5–9m of excellent mud in the SE quadrant of Tivat Bay, well clear of the shellfish farms in the W bay. The bay's mountain walls provide all-round shelter. From the anchorage, the contrast is striking: superyachts of 40–80m gliding past on their way in or out of Porto Montenegro while you sit quietly at anchor for free, 300m away.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
42°26.2'N 18°41.5'E
Depth
5–10m
Bottom
mud, sand
Holding
Excellent holdingProtected From
N, NE, E, SE, S, W, SW, NW
Exposed To
None (all-weather)
Best Months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor outside the Porto Montenegro fairway. Marina berths from €100–€500+/night (contact Porto Montenegro marina on VHF Ch 69 for current rates and availability).
Vignette Required
Yes — purchase at port of entry
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m appropriate for 5–9m of mud in the SE quadrant outside the Porto Montenegro fairway. The bay's all-round mountain shelter means this radius is generous — it functions as a pure drag indicator. The key hazard here is superyacht bow-thruster wash from Porto Montenegro operations — this creates sudden surges that can put momentary strain on the anchor even in no-wind conditions. Set the anchor firmly with engine reverse before going below, and keep the alarm active.
SE quadrant — free anchorage outside fairway: 75m recommended — The free anchorage area SE of Porto Montenegro's entry/exit fairway in 5–9m on mud and sand.
NE of Porto Montenegro breakwater — quiet pocket: 65m recommended — NE of the Porto Montenegro outer breakwater in 4–7m of mud.
Outer approach — deeper water for larger vessels: 105m recommended — Deeper water outside the Porto Montenegro fairway for vessels requiring more than 8m depth.
Anchoring Zones
Porto Montenegro Outer Anchorage has 3 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics.
Zone 1: SE quadrant — free anchorage outside fairway
- Depth: 5–10m
- Bottom: mud, sand
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W, SW, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 75m
The free anchorage area SE of Porto Montenegro's entry/exit fairway in 5–9m on mud and sand. This is NOT a marina berth — it is free anchoring on the bay floor outside Porto Montenegro's designated fairway. Excellent holding on deep mud throughout. Anchor here to use Porto Montenegro's shore-side facilities (restaurant, laundry, fuel dock, provisions) by dinghy without paying marina rates. The fairway entry and exit is clearly marked — anchor SE of the fairway buoys and confirm you are not in the approach channel. In-season superyacht movements create significant wash — keep the anchor firmly set.
Zone 2: NE of Porto Montenegro breakwater — quiet pocket
- Depth: 4–8m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W, SW
- Exposed to: NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 65m
NE of the Porto Montenegro outer breakwater in 4–7m of mud. Slightly less exposure to any NW wind funnelling through the Verige Strait than the open SE bay, though this is rarely significant inside Tivat Bay. Mud holding is excellent. A good position for boats wanting to be slightly removed from the main Tivat town anchorage while still being close to Porto Montenegro facilities.
Zone 3: Outer approach — deeper water for larger vessels
- Depth: 8–16m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W, SW, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 105m
Deeper water outside the Porto Montenegro fairway for vessels requiring more than 8m depth. Mud holding remains excellent throughout. The deeper position requires generous scope (6:1 in 12m = 72m rode) and a correspondingly larger alarm radius. This area sees occasional superyacht movement to and from Porto Montenegro — keep well clear of the buoyed fairway channel.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Porto Montenegro Outer Anchorage is primarily mud and sand 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 5–10m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (70m chain at 10m 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 Porto Montenegro Outer Anchorage are excellent — all-round protection means minimal boat movement.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 75m radius before going below. 75m appropriate for 5–9m of mud in the SE quadrant outside the Porto Montenegro fairway. The bay's all-round mountain shelter means this radius is generous — it functions as a pure drag indicator. The key hazard here is superyacht bow-thruster wash from Porto Montenegro operations — this creates sudden surges that can put momentary strain on the anchor even in no-wind conditions. Set the anchor firmly with engine reverse before going below, and keep the alarm active.
Best May–October. July–August peak season sees the most superyacht traffic and the highest marina rates — useful time to be anchored outside rather than inside. Porto Montenegro's facilities remain available year-round for clearing in, but the anchorage in winter is exposed to the occasional severe Bora that penetrates the bay in extreme events.
Navigation Hazards
- SHELLFISH FARMS (CRITICAL): W and NW of the Porto Montenegro fairway entry — active mussel and oyster farms with submerged lines. Anchor ONLY SE of the fairway buoys.
- Superyacht bow-thruster wash: Porto Montenegro handles vessels up to 250m with powerful thrusters — this creates surges that can test anchor holding even in calm conditions; set the anchor very firmly.
- Porto Montenegro fairway traffic: superyachts manoeuvring in and out of the marina create unexpected wash at all hours — do not anchor in or near the marked fairway channel.
- VERIGE STRAIT cruise ship traffic (0.5nm NE): vessels up to 360m transit the strait — do not anchor within 500m of the transit channel.
- LEPETANE FERRY: crosses NE Tivat Bay — fast-moving car ferry; keep 200m clear of its track.
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 outside the Porto Montenegro fairway. Marina berths from €100–€500+/night (contact Porto Montenegro marina on VHF Ch 69 for current rates and availability).
- Maximum stay: 7 days
- Restrictions: SHELLFISH FARMS: Do not anchor W or NW of the Porto Montenegro fairway entry — shellfish farms with submerged lines will foul anchor chains. Anchor only SE of the fairway buoys. Keep clear of the marked Porto Montenegro entry/exit fairway at all times — superyacht traffic uses this channel. Do not obstruct the fairway.
- 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: Porto Montenegro / Tivat town (0.3nm)
- Restaurant: None — nearest at Porto Montenegro / Tivat town (0.3nm)
- Provisions: None on site — Porto Montenegro / Tivat town (0.3nm)
Skipper's Tips
- Call Porto Montenegro on VHF Ch 69 to inquire about shore access and visitor passes — some seasons they allow non-berth-holders to use the fuel dock, laundry, and restaurants for a modest daily fee, which is significantly cheaper than a berth.
- Dinghy across to the Porto Montenegro fuel dock to top up diesel and petrol — it is the most convenient fuel point in the Tivat area and eliminates the need to move the main vessel.
- The Porto Montenegro chandlery (within the marina complex) stocks a good range of spares and charts — worth a visit if you are heading deeper into the Adriatic.
- Position your anchor SE of the fairway buoys with confidence — the mud is deep and excellent throughout the SE bay; you will not drag even in the Bora gusts that occasionally reach 30–35 knots inside the bay.
- Porto Montenegro's restaurant strip is genuinely excellent for the area — a dinghy dinner ashore while anchored for free 300m away is one of those cruising experiences that never gets old.
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 Porto Montenegro Outer Anchorage
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