Lake Koman Ferry (Albanian: Trageti i Komanit) is a passenger ferry service operated by several local companies along the Koman Reservoir (also known as Koman Lake) in Northern Albania.

Trageti i Komanit
Lake Komani
LocaleFierze, Albania; Koman, Albania
WaterwayKoman Reservoir
Transit typePassenger ferry
OperatorRozafa ferry, SAHHILBA/Alpin, Mario Molla, Vellezerit Marku (Berisha/Dragobia),
Began operation1984
No. of lines4
No. of vessels~10
No. of terminals2

The line operates between Koman, near the Koman Hydroelectric Power Station, and Fierzë near the Fierza Hydroelectric Power Station. The line is known for its scenic views of the mountain gorges, unscheduled stops along the way for serving locals, and animals being fitted on board up to full capacity.

History

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Following the construction of the dam and inundation of the area, a ferry service was established to serve the local population. Since the 2000s, the area has become a growing tourist destination. As a result, the old car ferry ship Dardania underwent a complete makeover and began regular trips in May 2015 with the new name Alpin Ferry. Between June 2012 and April 2014, the Jezerca X car ferry was no longer running. The new A1 highway connecting the Albanian coast with Kukes and Kosovo made it redundant and allowed for the Dardania ship makeover. Presently, several private companies offer custom tours packages with acceptable vessels.

Also, there is the Dragobia Boat (the cabin of which was converted from a bus), which has been operating in the lake since 1994. Now they also have the Berisha Ferry, which can carry up to 5 cars.

 
Bus-boat ferry

Schedule

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In May 2015, the revamped car ferry ship was re-introduced with daily service on a new timetable. The journey takes two hours. Other ferry services such as Berisha have an inverted schedule. There are schedule changes in the winter season to accommodate lower ridership.

Transportation

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Furgons (minibuses) serve the area and are usually located at the ferry docking stations. Furgons depart from Shkoder in the morning.

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See also

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References

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  • Lake, Komani. "Guide to Komani Lake".
  • Fox, Killian (April 15, 2012). "Testing the Water in Albania". The Guardian. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  • Vadala, Davide (24 February 2015). "How to get from Shkodër to Valbona and the impressive Koman lake ferry". Nomad Traveller.
  • Wassel, Todd (June 24, 2011). "Off Track on the Northern Albanian Komani Lake". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

Ferry operators

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