Macedonia's Ohrid Shipowners Threaten to Sue Skopje

World | July 20, 2010, Tuesday

Tourists flocking to the beautiful Ohrid Lake in Macedonia were stranded over the weekend, after Skopje banned all ship navigation over unsafe conditions on tour boats. Photo by BGNES

The shipowners from the Macedonian town of Ohrid are going to sue the State if the cabinet refuses to extend the deadline for the technical inspection of their vessels.

The news was reported by the Macedonian newspaper “Vreme” and comes on the heels of an order from Skopje banning all navigation in the famous Ohrid Lake, Macedonia's top tourist attraction.

The shipowners are against the ban and the selection of a new inspection company – the French “Bureau Veritas,” over their high prices. They, however, vow to adhere to the ban. The Macedonian Transport Ministry is firm to not allow vessels to sail without proof they are in good technical state.

The ban became effective this past Friday and left hundreds of visitors stranded, not being able to reach the top attraction in the area – the St. Naum monastery. The fine for violating the ban is up to EUR 8 000.

Just very recently, the Macedonian Transportation Ministry signed a new contract with the French company, after Macedonia suspended its contract with the German branch of the Lloyd company.

The Lloyd representative in the country is indicted over the sinking of the tour boat Ilinden in the beginning of September 2009, when 15 Bulgarian tourists drowned.

The new inspection cost is, however, the staggering for Macedonia EUR 7 700 per year, and ship owners refuse to pay this amount. They say the Bulgarian ship registry proposes much more acceptable fees.