The project was approved by the Managing Authority of Operational Programme Transport 2007-2013 on 17.05.2012.

Deadline: Start: 26.06.2012; End: 30.06.2015

Beneficiary: Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company

Budget: Total value of the project: BGN 39,145,117.96 including VAT

Sources of funding:

European Regional Development Fund: BGN 27,815,666.79 excluding VAT

National co-funding: BGN 4,908,647.08

The project is funded under Priority Axis 4 “Improvement of the maritime and inland-waterway navigation” of OP Transport.

Aim of the project

The project concerns the national component of the Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system SafeSeaNet which aims to ensure efficient and safe maritime navigation. The Bulgarian component of the system is being developed in line with the requirements of Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2002 establishing a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system and Directive 2010/65/EU on reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from ports of the Member States.

Implementing the third phase of the project will result in extending and finalising the part already in operation in order to cover the entire coastal area and to enable the integration of all communication sub-systems in a single national maritime information system. Within the project a national centre for electronic documentation for maritime transport (one stop shop) will be established.

Modern buildings for coastal centres for shipping management and information services in Burgas and Varna.

Location

The implementation of the project falls into the scope of the North-Eastern and South-Eastern planning regions on the territory of the areas of Varna, Dobrich, and Burgas.

Main activities under the project

The implementation of the project is divided into the following activities:

• Activity 1: Expanding the scope and functions of the vessel traffic management system (VTS);
• Activity 2: Establishing a national centre for electronic documentation for maritime transport (one stop shop);
• Activity 3: Upgrading and expanding the transmission medium (RRL) and technological modernisation of the radio communication system (GMDSS);
• Activity 4: Constructing a building for the coastal centre for shipping management and information services Burgas;
• Activity 5: Constructing a building for the coastal centre for shipping management and information services Varna;
• Activity 6: Supervision of activities 1, 3, 4, and 5;
• Activity 7: Technical Assistance
  • Under activities 1, 2, and 3 of the project the following tender procedure was carried out: “Delivery and installation of equipment and execution of construction works for the Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) – Phase 3 Project”. A contractor was selected, the procedure currently being appealed.
  • Under activity 6 of the project a tender procedure was launched on the selection of a contractor for: “Supervision of the construction works and provision of consulting services for the construction of projects under the Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) – Phase 3 Project”. The public opening of tenders was carried out on 21.05.2013. The 2-month period for appeals is currently running.

Project contractors

• The construction of traffic control towers in Varna and Burgas is one of the lots under the Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) – Phase 3 Project.
• The contractor, consortium “Midia – Diana Commerce”, was selected through the following open procedure announced in line with the Public Procurement Act: “Design, construction (engineering), and furnishing of buildings for coastal centres for shipping management and information services”.
  • Investment amount: BGN 3,767,700.00 (excluding VAT)
  • Deadline for implementing the two coastal centres: 30.06.2014

 Location and characteristics of the new coastal centres

• Coastal centre for shipping management and information services in Burgas

Location: Port Burgas East — from the yacht port to the warehouse of Bulgartabac.

A new passenger terminal with an international maritime station is being constructed on the same site and the construction of a marina, entertainment facilities and retail stores is envisaged. The available technical infrastructure around the site, serving port activities, corresponds to some of the infrastructure needs for the construction of the building. 

Characteristics of the building: the building is envisaged to have four floors and a total built-up area of 1 000 m².

The second floor will be taken mainly by the technical means for the system communication medium.

The third floor will be taken by the Burgas port office of the national centre for electronic documentation, archive room for the information system, situation centre, and the Traffic Management governing body.

Fourth floor — the facilities that will be located on this level will be allocated to the Traffic Management, which is a sector with a 24-hour work regime. Control room — 5 operator stations, each with 4 monitors, training device and situation simulators, security terrace.

Above the roof — metal construction allowing antenna devices to be installed.

• Coastal centre for shipping management and information services in Varna.

Location: municipality of Varna; district of Asparuhov park

Characteristics of the building: The building is envisaged to have four floors and a total built-up area of 1 000 m².

The first floor will be taken by technological rooms.

Second floor — a server room (data centre) and a room for a situation centre. IT specialists, sanitary facility, staircase landing, lift.

Third floor — GMDSS operational centre, VTS-GMDSS-RRL equipment, measuring radio laboratory, archive room for the information system, sanitary facility, staircase landing, lift.

Fourth floor — the traffic management operational centre — sector with 24-hour work regime — room with 8 operator stations, training device and situation simulators, the traffic management governing body, rest room, sanitary facility, staircase landing, lift.

Above the roof — metal construction allowing antenna devices to be installed.

System operation functions are envisaged to be implemented by a compact and highly qualified team (26 employees in Varna and 18 in Burgas). Specialists in the areas of navigation, communication and information technology will also be involved in the activities, with strict requirements concerning their competences, skills and experience.