Speaking about the maritime history of Montenegro one speaks in fact of the maritime history of the bay of Boka Kotorska which is located at the northern part of the Montenegrin coast. Ever since the time of ancient Rome and Illyria maritime shipping has been the core of the Boka Kotorska (Boka) economy. In the middle century the cities in Boka such as Kotor, Perast and Herceg-Novi became the inevitable gateways to the Adriatic sea, Ionian sea Aegean sea and the whole Mediterranean to all neighboring kingdoms and principalities. In the middle of 16^th century Boka’s sailing ship traveled even as far as to the North Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The continuous development of maritime trade had been interrupted from time to time by fights and battles with Ottomans, however at the end of 17^th century the whole Boka got united under the Venetian Republic and this period marks the beginning of the golden era of Boka’s maritime economy.

At the end of the 18^th century captains/owners from Boka managed 300 overseas sealing ships yielding 130.000 of golden Venice ducats per year.

In the year of 1698 Russian Czar Peter the Great reverted to the Venice Republic with a plead to recommend him a relevant person to whom he could sent 16 young Russian nobles to be taught and trained maritime skills with the final aim to organize Russian navy. The Senate of Venice recommended Capt. Marko Martinovic from Perast, Boka Kotorska. So the Russian students had been sent to Boka Kotorska where Capt. Martinovic as a skilled seaman fulfilled his job on the high satisfaction of the Russian Czar. At the beginning of 18^th century Capt. Matija Zmajevic also from Perast, Boka Kotorska became a famous admiral of the Russian navy by winning a numerous battles on the East Sea. Catp. Marko Vojonovic from Herceg-Novi, Boka Kotorska gave his great contribution by organizing Russian fleet on the Black Sea. Naval architect Matija Melada from Perast, Boka Kotorska was a famous engineer of that time and he had organized a vide range of Russian ports. Maritime expert Antun Grubasa from Perast, Boka Kotorska, was the first one who described in details the Adriatic Sea and created first nautical charts of the Adriatic. These are just some of the brightest examples of persons who marked maritime history of Boka Kotorska. There are also many others captains, engineers, architects and traders who contributed to the great extent development and promotion of our maritime tradition.

Until the 19^th century there were many private nautical schools in the cities of Kotor, Perast, Prcanj, Dobrota and Herceg-Novi. When the Venice Republic cease its existence 1n 1797 Boka Kotorska had total of 264 overseas sailing ships and the great number of smaller coasters. By the year of 1805 the number of overseas sailing ships increased to 400. That time Boka Kotorska had more than 250 licensed captains with over 3000 seamen. Citizens of Boka Kotorska possessed abroad capital found of about 1.50 milions gold ducats, this sum did not include their wealth invested in ships and trading houses abroad.

Unfortunately the upraise of maritime prosperity in Boka Kotorska were hindered with the Napoleon wars. That time the bay was blocked by the English fleet that led to seizure or demise of the majority of ships, one part had also been captured by French. That grave crisis impoverished the whole region. Significant influence to crises also contributed the Austrian bankrupt that affected maritime trade to a great extent. In the year of 1814 Boka Kotorska remained with caa 50 overseas sailing ships and 220 smaller boats, but may be the greatest problem was that there was no cargo to had been loaded at ports in the bay.

In the middle of 19^th century the citizens of Boka Kotorska tried again to revive the maritime fleet and to some extent they had succeeded. Between 1850 and 1870 the fleet grown to more than 100 overseas sailing ships.

It is worthy of mentioning that Capt Ivo Vizin from Pricanj, Boka Kotorska sailed around the World from 1852 to 1859. That was the firs trip of that kind undertaken by a Captain from Boka Kotorska with his ship. For this success Capt. Vizin was medaled with the honour of Merito Navali by the Austrian Czar. Never before or after this medal has been rewarded to any seaman for his maritime-trading merits.  

With the invention of seam engine sailing ships around the World have started to loose their significance, situation in Boka Kotorska was not a difference. Due to financial and organizational deficiencies problems and lack of state support, maritime shipping in Boka Kotorska started to loose its advantages rapidly. Some ship owners mowed abroad, some established new companies, some went bankrupt, all together the maritime shipping in Boka Kotorska started to deteriorate when it comes to ship owning. From that time until today ship owning segment of maritime industry in Boka Kotorska went to good times and bad times.

Today shipowning business almost does not exist at all. However, on the other side citizens of Boka Kotorska have always been dedicated to seafaring profession and unlike shipping companies, seafaring occupation continued to develop further and Boka Kotorska remained a strong and prominent source of excellent seaman. This tradition and expertise has been spread throughout whole of Montenegro, so Boka Kotorska with its maritime faculty and several other training institutions became a centre of seafarers education, training and employment. Interest with young people in going to sea still does not show any weakening, so we expect that also in the 21^st century the world of maritime shipping will witness many other good seafarers from Montenegro.