Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company

The implementation of the project for the “Delivery, Installation and Commissioning of Port Reception Facilities (PSP) in Bulgarian Ports for Public Transport of National Importance” is of great significance for the development of the blue economy. This was revealed by the statement, made by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Vladimir Varbanov. He opened the project closing event, which took place on 23.03.2022 (Wednesday) in Varna, enjoying substantial interest among the public. Deputy Minister Varbanov emphasized that Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Company (BPI Co.) was among the most effective beneficiaries of OP “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” 2014 – 2020.

One of BPI Co. responsibilities is to maintain adequate resources and forces for taking part in urgent and rescue emergency and recovery operations, carried out in the water areas of the state-owned public transport ports, in conformity with the National Disaster Protection Plan. As part of the fulfillment of these obligations, we have delivered state-of-the-art equipment for the recovery and elimination of oil spills and solid waste from the marine and river port areas. Now it is important that our efforts are met with the active support of the responsible authorities, which should incorporate clear provisions on the interactions between the participants in the operations, in the Disaster Protection Plans, commented BPI Co. Director General Anna Natova.

Two parallel demonstrations were presented, using different facilities for the prevention and response to operational and emergency pollution. In one of the operations, the attendants could observe the cleaning of an oil spill. Operators showed the use of booms for containment of oil spills, and after that the crew showed the performance of the cleaning itself, using a vessel, equipped with a skimmer. In the second demonstrations, guests saw the cleaning of floating solid waste. Operators demonstrated the use of booms for containment of the polluted area, using a vessel, equipped with a bow collector. The equipment was operated by highly-qualified and experienced team of captains, mecahnics and operators. In order to be able to promptly and adequately cope with various emergency sitautins, employees undergo periodic special trainings and drills.

With the implementaiton of this project, Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Co. made a large step forward to a greener Bulgaria, contributing the brininging of the Bulgarian ports into compliance with the EU environmental requirements. The project was funded through the OP “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” – the operational programme, under which BPI Co. has implemented a number of large-scale projects and has commissioned advanced systems on european level, which rank Bulgaria among Europe’s top performers in terms of water transport digitalization.