Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company

An even higher level of shipping safety and security when visiting ships in Bulgarian seaports has been achieved thanks to the expansion of the scope of the VTMIS Vessel Traffic Management and Information Services. In order to improve the management of shipping and to strengthen the environmental control in our maritime areas, the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company has upgraded the functional capabilities of the system. The geographical expansion of the scope of VTMIS has been achieved through the installation of equipment at new points to cover navigation monitoring areas, ensuring the safety of navigation, the protection of human life at sea and the protection of the environment from pollution. The extreme northern and southern regions of the sea areas and critical navigable and port sections of Bulgaria have been covered. The capabilities of VTMIS system operators for communication, monitoring and assessment of the navigation and meteorological environment have been improved. The infrastructure which provides data transfer between the individual sites with monitoring and communication equipment has been modernized. The ecological control for protection of the marine natural environment from pollution as a result of the shipping activity has been strengthened.

The implementation of the project has an indirect positive impact on the efficiency of the Trans-European Transport Network, as the sites of the territorial scope of the Port of Burgas are part of the main network, and the sites of the territorial scope of the Port of Varna are part of the extended Trans-European Network.

The project ”Territorial Expanding and Completing Functions of Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) – Phase 4” is funded by the Operational Program "Transport and Transport Infrastructure" 2014 – 2020. The project follows the good European practices in the field of traffic management and continuous technological development and improvement in the sector (radar, specialized round-the-clock video surveillance, IT, etc.), which imply the need for technological improvement and expansion of the VTMIS system by implementing modernized infrastructure and innovative approaches in construction and operation.