Komunistički režim ostavio je iza sebe zapuštene stambene zgrade i hotele, a luka je odigrala bitnu ulogu tokom pada režima 1991, kad je 20.000 Albanaca riskiralo živote zaposjevši teretne brodove i otišavši u Italiju u potrazi za azilom.
The communist regime has left shabby blocks of flats and hotels, while the harbour figured strongly during the regime's collapse in 1991, when 20,000 Albanians risked their lives by seizing cargo ships and leaving for Italy in search of asylum.