Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski and Director General of Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company (BPI Co.) Anguel Zabourtov cut the ribbon of the Coastal Traffic Management and Information Center in Varna on the feast of the city. Within a week BPI Co. opened two costal centers, identical in their functions in Varna and Burgas which will monitor the shipping. The two buildings are constructed under the project Vessel Traffic Management Information System – phase 3 (VTMIS), co-funded by ERDF on Operational Programme “Transport” 2007-2013. The Contracting Authority is Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company.

With the operation of the two coastal centers, which are in constant interaction, the control over the Black Sea coast on all passing vessels is already a fact, assistance will be given to any vessel in distress, became clear from the words of the Prime Minister Borissov during the official inauguration of the coastal center in Varna.

The two new coastal centers in Varna and Burgas are already monitoring the whole maritime border of Bulgaria, said on his part the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski. He added that their operation will increase the working efficiency of the specialized agencies and the Navy.

The Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company completed one extremely complex project qualitatively and on time, said on his part Anguel Zabourtov, Director General of BPI Co.

The inauguration was attended by the Minister of Youth and Spots Krasen Kralev, the Mayor of Varna Ivan Portnih, the Governor of Varna Stoyan Pasev, representatives of central and local authorities, guests and citizens of the city.

The event was held at the Coastal center located in Asparuhov Park. Besides a port facility, the Coastal center is an architectural landmark because of its creative vision. A vessel traffic management center is located at Varna Coastal center – VTS Center Varna, to monitor and direct the ship traffic north of Cape Emine.

The building will host the operational center of the Bulgarian part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System - GMDSS Operating Center. From the operational center will be carried out all communications, commitment of Bulgaria under the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention). The center has television and thermal imaging cameras, stations for meteorological surveillance and other special equipment. In cases of emergency in Coastal center Burgas, the Coastal center Varna will be ready to assume operations on Black sea coast.

The construction of the two buildings for management and information services for shipping in the Bulgarian Black Sea coast began in April last year. The value of the contract for design and construction of the two coastal centers is 3 767 700 BGN excluding VAT, with contractor Consortium "Midia – Diana Commerce". Supply and installation of electronic equipment, hardware and software was carried out by Consortium “Translink“, and comes to amount of 27 735 686,00 BGN excluding VAT.  The total cost of the entire project is 39 145 117,96 BGN.

With the successful completion of the project, Bulgaria will be one of the first Member States to fulfill the requirements of the European Union concerning the safety of shipping and the EU Directive requiring electronic processing of shipping documents.