On the eve of the Seafarer’s Day, declared by the International Maritime Organization at the UN, in Burgas, in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Mr. Danail Papazov and the Mayor of Burgas Municipality Mr. Dimitar Nikolov, the contract for the design and construction of the buildings of the shore centers for management and information service of shipping in Burgas and Varna was officially signed.
The traffic towers in the two largest Bulgarian port centers will be built under the project: “Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) – Phase 3”, funded under Priority Axis 4 “Improvement of navigation on maritime and inland waterways” of the Operational Program “Transport” 2007-2013. The main functions of the VTMIS being constructed are:
monitoring shipping to coordinate the actions of vessels sailing in the maritime spaces of the Republic of Bulgaria to avoid situations that could lead to accidents, collisions, grounding, and sinking of ships;
- management of vessel traffic in the VTS zones of the Republic of Bulgaria;
- enhanced monitoring of ships that pose a danger to navigation, human life at sea, and the environment;
- collection, storage, and provision of information obtained through the reporting system in the maritime spaces of the Republic of Bulgaria to other Bulgarian and foreign competent authorities and interested parties;
- collection, storage, and provision of information on the meteorological conditions in ports and approach channels;
- dissemination of maritime safety information;
- ensuring communication between ships and shore services;
- data exchange with European maritime safety and security systems.
- To perform these functions, the State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure” builds and maintains technical and engineering infrastructure throughout the coastal zone – land, massive and modular buildings for equipment, metal structures for antenna devices, power supplies, and road connections.
As a result of the project implementation, the currently functioning part will be expanded and completed to cover the entire coastline and enable the integration of all communication subsystems into a unified national maritime information system.
Through an open procedure announced under the Public Procurement Act for the subject “Design and construction (engineering) and furnishing of buildings for shore centers for management and information service of shipping”, the contractor – Consortium “Midia – Diana Commerce” was selected. The value of the assigned activities is: 3,767,700.00 BGN (excluding VAT). It is expected that the two traffic towers will be completed by the end of June 2014.
Each of the shore centers for management and information service of shipping monitors compliance with the movement system in the maritime spaces of the Republic of Bulgaria, adopted by the International Maritime Organization; collects information obtained through the reporting system in the maritime spaces of the Republic of Bulgaria; monitors shipping and coordinates the actions of vessels sailing in the maritime spaces of the Republic of Bulgaria to avoid situations that could lead to accidents, collisions, grounding, and sinking of ships, coordinates actions in search and rescue of human life at sea, takes actions in case of maritime incidents; conducts enhanced monitoring of ships that pose a danger to navigation, human life at sea, and the environment; organizes the movement of ships to ensure anchoring and staying at anchor points and effective control of vessel traffic and provides recommendations on maneuvers, course following, and maintaining a certain speed.
Within the project, 14 other communication facilities are being built – part of the system. The overall management of the vessel traffic control system is normatively assigned to the State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure”, Directorate “Vessel Traffic Management-Varna”.
The architectural design of the coastal centers for vessel traffic management and information services in Burgas and Varna will be selected following public consultation. This was announced by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Danail Papazov, during the signing ceremony of contracts for the design and construction of the two towers in Burgas. In the coming days, the conceptual designs for coastal centers will be displayed for discussion, and recommendations and suggestions will be taken into account during the working design process.
Minister Danail Papazov emphasized the importance of the information system in ensuring maritime safety in the Black Sea region and the crucial role of the operational centers that will be housed in the future traffic towers. According to him, the two facilities will operate with full communication compatibility, which is a positive sign for future projects related to the development of Bulgarian water transport that should be built in partnership between the two major port cities.
The project also includes the construction of 14 other communication facilities as part of the system. The overall management of the vessel traffic control system is legally assigned to the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company, Vessel Traffic Management-Varna Division.
