For 11 years the Coastal Centers for Vessel Traffic Management and Information Services operated by the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company (BPI Co.) have been ensuring the efficient and safe management of vessel traffic along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
The VTMIS Coastal Center Varna, officially opened on this day in 2015, is located in Asparuhovo Park and is responsible for monitoring and managing vessel traffic in the maritime areas north of Cape Emine. It maintains a continuous exchange of information with the VTMIS Coastal Center Burgas, which manages traffic south of Cape Emine. The two centers coordinate vessel movements with the aim of preventing situations that could lead to accidents, collisions, groundings or the sinking of vessels. They also support search and rescue operations at sea.
Today, the digital transformation of Bulgarian ports is entering a new phase with the adoption of a regulatory framework governing the commissioning of the National System for Electronic Exchange of Information in Bulgarian Seaports (Bulgarian Port Community System – BulPCS).
The implementation of BulPCS represents the next stage in the digital transformation of maritime transport, enabling the transition from paper-based documentation used in the handling of import, export and transit cargo to more efficient process management through digital data exchange.
BPI Co. has also recently launched a new project financed under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021–2027, further advancing its efforts to modernise information systems and processes. The new initiative provides for the commissioning of high-frequency radar systems to ensure continuous, real-time monitoring of key hydrometeorological parameters. This will contribute to enhancing vessel safety in ports and reducing the potential risk of pollution.