Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company

“Bulgaria is one of the leading countries in the digitalization of port services. We are even excellent in Europe and after two years we will be able to boast the introduction of the new electronic platform PCS“. This was stated by the Director General of Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Co. Anguel Zabourtov during the presentation of the Common Vision for Electronic Information Exchange in the Bulgarian Ports (Port Community System – PCS) in Varna on 20.06.2018 and in Burgas on 21.06.2018. The system was presented to stakeholders – experts from state institutions and representatives of the maritime business. In the words of Mr. Zabourtov, the system is designed for users and the more active they are, the better it will also work.

In turn, the Head of the Managing Authority on OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure Galina Vasileva reminded that company has been a beneficiary of the programme since the previous programming period 2007-2013, during which BPI Co. has implemented very important projects, the most significant of which is the VTMIS - Phase 3. “We are glad that during this programming period Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company continues to build upon the information systems it developed over the years, to improve them in order to provide a better quality modern services to all users“, she commented.

The representative of the company contractor Stefano Temporini explained that the first PCS’s began to function in the late 1970s. In his words step by step, more and more ports introduce the system as a necessity related to their competitiveness and in connection with the exchange of electronic information between the business and the state institutions.

The introduction of PCS is fully focused on achieving the efficiency and competitiveness of the transport sector. Its implementation will lead to the optimization and automation of ports and logistics processes through a single data input, enhancing coordination efficiency among logistic chain participants, speeding up workflows, transparency of information and real-time information, improving environmental conditions by reducing emissions, tracking throughout the logistic chain, and reducing paper use. The information in the system will be available through a common interface to all authorized stakeholders in the port community, in accordance with their participation and access level.

The project is funded by the EU funds from the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria through Operational Programme Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014–2020.