The main construction activities for the River Information Services Center in Ruse have been completed. The start of construction was marked with an official ceremony in December 2012. In less than a year, the building, which will centralize all control of ship traffic on the river, is already rising on the banks of the Danube.
The concept and design of the RIS center are the work of a team from the architectural studio “VAMOS” under the leadership of Arch. Nikolay Simeonov, while the construction and equipment were assigned to “Consortium Dunav” with leading partner “Chris Group” Ltd.
The building of the River Information Services Center has 3 levels and will house the control room for managing ship traffic, a training hall, and technological premises in which equipment and facilities will be located to ensure the functioning of the River Information System – BULRIS. The building is also planned to house a crisis situation center, which will allow continuous operation of large teams and will be provided with special communications for connection between the various institutions involved in the entire process of control and management of ship traffic. Antennas and stations for the operation of the information system, as well as a local photovoltaic system that will provide independent power supply, will be mounted on the building.
The total value of the investment is BGN 5,986,752.89 (excluding VAT), of which BGN 5,088,739.96 is provided by the European Regional Development Fund and BGN 898,012.93 by the state budget.
The construction activities, the organization of traffic in the area of the RIS center, the approaches to the building, as well as the construction of a new railway crossing and reconstruction of the quay wall are planned to be completed in early April 2014.
The construction of the River Information Services Center in Ruse is part of the activities falling within the scope of Phase 2, Lot 1 of project BG 161 PO 004-4.0.01-0003 “Establishment of a River Information System in the Bulgarian part of the Danube River – BULRIS”. The project is financed by EU funds through the Transport Operational Program 2007-2013 under Priority Axis 4 “Improving navigation on sea and inland waterways”. The beneficiary is the State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure”.
The total value of the project “Establishment of a River Information System in the Bulgarian part of the Danube River – BULRIS” is BGN 42,318,622.36. The funds provided by the European Regional Development Fund amount to BGN 30,072,076.66, and the national co-financing is BGN 5,306,837.06.
The project should be fully completed by mid-2014.