Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company

The Coastal Center for Vessel Traffic Management and Information Services Varna was opened 7 years ago today. Situated at the Asparuh Park and better known by the locals as the Tilted Tower, the Center is responsible for the traffic in the northern navigational area of the Bulgarian Black Sea section – from Durankulak to Cape Emine. The second coastal center, built by the BPI Co. and commissioned on August 8, 2015, is located in Burgas at the Рort Terminal Burgas East 1. It is responsible for the traffic in the southern navigational area from Cape Emine to Rezovo.

Situated in characteristic and recognisable buildings, both operational centers for vessel traffic management in the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea, continuously exchange data with each other and aggregate information and navigation systems, built, based on the latest achievements in science and technique.

The coastal centers “never sleep”. Operators monitor the traffic 24/7, guiding ships, organizing their simultaneous passage and their entry into ports. The windows, through which they look, are inclined forward so that the reflections from lights, situated in the premises, do not prevent them from seeing outside in the dark properly.

The Vessel Traffic Management and Information Services VTMIS has been in process of development in stages for over 23 years and meets the most stringent global standards. It provides services for the performance of navigation activities in the Bulgarian marine areas, such as the passage of vessels through territorial waters and the adjacent area, their mooring at ports and roadstead, etc.

Following good European practices, in 2019 BPI Co. also constructed an additional module for enhancing the services for smart manoeuvring of vessels and vessel traffic management STM. It improves navigation safety and environmental protection by reducing harmful emissions from vessels. Also reduced were the travelling costs and the time of stay of the ships in ports.