The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Mr. Ivaylo Moskovski, the Minister of Environment and Water Ivelina Vasileva, the Mayor of Burgas Dimitar Nikolov, and the Director General of State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure” Angel Zaburtov conducted an inspection of the construction of the Coastal Vessel Traffic Management Center in Burgas.
The construction is funded through the Operational Programme “Transport” 2007-2013 under project BG161PO004-4.0.01-0005 “Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) – Phase 3”. VTMIS is the national component of the Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system SafeSeaNet, which aims to ensure efficient and safe navigation in maritime spaces. ERDF funds are currently being used to expand the infrastructure of the maritime information system to cover Bulgaria’s entire coastline. After the project’s completion, all communication subsystems will be integrated into a unified national maritime information system.
The Coastal Center – Burgas (CC) will house the Burgas Traffic Management Operations Center – VTS Center Burgas, which manages and monitors vessel traffic in maritime areas south of Cape Emine. If necessary, it can assume vessel traffic monitoring functions for the northern Black Sea region, as there is constant information exchange between it and the coastal center being built in Varna. The Burgas Vessel Traffic Management Center will be able to maintain communication with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) during emergency situations.
The Burgas coastal center building includes provisions for a Crisis Management Situation Center, which will have access to all communication and information resources of the VTMIS system. The project will also establish a “National Center for Electronic Document Management for Maritime Transport (“single window”).
The construction of the coastal centers has been assigned to the Consortium “Midia – Diana Commerce”. Form 14 protocols for structural acceptance have already been signed for both buildings. The implementation of construction and assembly activities is proceeding according to the approved schedule.
