On 15 May 2010 Evgeny Moskov, the General Director of the 'Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company', a state-owned company affiliated to the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications signed a contract for the implementation of the first phase of the project 'Establishment of a River Information System in the Bulgarian stretch of Danube' (BULRIS).

According to the Ministry of Transport, this project will not only enable Bulgaria to meet the European Union requirements for the improvement of navigation, it will also enhance the port infrastructure modernisation capacity and thus allow the provision of competitive services, increased cargo transit through Bulgaria's ports on the Danube and the accelerated development of intermodal terminals along the riverside. 

River information systems are tools to manage traffic on waterways; they make it possible to monitor traffic conditions, ensure better navigation safety and reduce the impact of traffic on the environment. Thanks to these systems ships' crews can indeed receive real time traffic information, know of critical areas in the port were they will dock the ship and check the weather conditions there. 

The indicative budget for the first phase of the project's implementation is BGN 15 million (approx. €7.7 million). The BULRIS project is part of Operational Programme 'Transport', Axis IV 'Improving the conditions for the maritime and inland waterways'. It will be implemented in three phases until the end 2013. The indicative budget for the whole project is €15 million.

Background information:

The establishment of river information systems in all those areas of the Danube that are controlled by other countries contributes to promoting efficient and safe navigation on the longest river of the European Union. The absence of such a system in the Bulgarian shore of the Danube places the country in a disadvantageous position compared to other EU Member States as it is not included in the common European system for exchanging information.

 

Further information: 

• Original press release - Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications (in Bulgarian)
• Directive 2005/44/EC on harmonised river information services (RIS) on inland waterways in the Community