The annual program for building, reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance of the ports as set forth in article 106a of the Maritime Space, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria Act and other ports – property of the state for public transportation of Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company has been developed on the grounds of article 115u, paragraph 2 of Maritime Space, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria Act.
The purpose of the Annual Program of BPI Co. is to present the main guidelines in the object of activity.
Funds for the implementation of the Annual Program shall be provided in accordance with Art. 115c, para. 1 of MSIWPRBA:
- Port charges under Art. 103c, para. 1 of MSIWPRBA;
- Interest on deposits of own funds and defaults; State Budget;
- Activities related to the implementation of the object of activity of Art. 115m, para. 1;
- Funds provided free (donations);
- Grants under European Union Programs.
The Annual Program presents forecast for spending the funds forming the budget of BPI Co. under the provisions of the law:
- to implement the object of activity of BPI Co under Art. 115m, para. 1;
- to ensure safety of navigation channels and water area of public transport ports;
- BPI Co. sustentation.
Basic priorities:
According to the assessment of situation of the transport sector in Bulgaria at the time the river and sea transport is underdeveloped and their use is directly dependent on the development of inland services, short sea shipping (concept development of the EU motorways of the sea) and provision of efficient port services.
European transport policy considers a priority the development of maritime transport and inland waterways – key components of modality, that enable to overcome the growing congestion of road and rail infrastructure and air pollution combating.
Ports are of vital importance for the European transport business, for the competitiveness of Europe and also have great potential for job creation and for investments.
The trend for development of public river and sea ports of national importance is related to concessions and liberalization of port services taking into account the needs for improvement of technical conditions of the port infrastructures and port water areas.
Currently a concentration is needed on the development of river and maritime transportation because their use depends directly on the promotion of services for internal waterways, short distance maritime transportation (development of a European concept for maritime highways) and providing improved port services.
The port policy shall be directed toward the following areas:
- provision of sustainable development of the ports and their capacity;
- creation of a clear and transparent framework for securing port investments.
Therefore the main priorities when planning the Annual Program of BPI Co. are:
- development of the public and private partnerships;
- development of multi-modal logistic platforms;
- modernization and expansion of the capacity of the necessary infrastructure for operations in the ports area and achieving sustainability, improved efficiency in the use of resources and broader application of environmentally clean technologies and industrial processes;
- promotion of sustainable shipping on internal waterways;
- decrease of the administrative burden – introduction of the one-desk service and a national system for electronic exchange of information in ports – Port Community System;
- creation and maintaining stable regulatory environment;
- creation of a clear and transparent framework for ensuring port investments;
- development and maintenance of integrated information systems – prerequisite for imposing state-of-the-art management and operational models;
- development of the intermodal/combined transportation and creation of a national network of state-of-the-art intermodal terminals to serve the needs of railway and water cargo transportation;
- decrease of harmful emissions from shipment and port activities;
- improvement of the vessels waste management;
- decrease of the harmful impact from ballast water from vessels;
- limitation of the pollution of water through performance of activities on port maintenance and expansion.