Transas to Supply VTMIS For Bulgarian Gov’t

Transas Marine Ltd. UK has been announced as the winner of the international tender for a large-scale VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Management and Information System), including GMDSS and UAIS subsystems sought by the Bulgarian government. On November 30, a multi-million contract was signed in Sofia between Transas Marine and the Ministry of Finance of Bulgaria, which was endorsed for financing by the European Community. The tender has been held under the framework of the Phare programme aimed at the financial support of countries of Central and East Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union. The launch of the VTMIS, including a huge wide area Telecommunication Network, is the starting platform for further development of the Bulgarian coastal structure to ensure a safe sailing environment in the Black Sea and business prosperity of the region. As stated in the agreement documents, Bulgaria and specifically the Bulgarian ports need to be integrated in the multi-modal transport chain via the relevant transport corridors and the Traceca route. This requires, among other things, a policy of promotion of short-sea and sea-river shipping connection with the hinterland corridors. To support this policy, there’s a need to improve the efficiency of the transport corridors in Bulgaria. For that reason, and especially in view of the vulnerability of the Black Sea, Bulgarian ports and coastline, one of the conditions for the improvement of the Bulgarian transport chain is the realization of VTS systems for the Sea Ports of Bourgas and Varna, and along the Bulgarian territorial waters. According to the contract terms, Transas will deliver, install and put into operation an integrated regional complex comprising Telecommunication Network along the entire Bulgarian shore line, four Vessel Traffic Service Centres, coastal GMDSS A1 network, coastal UAIS network, coastal RDF network, DGPS reference station and subsidiary systems. The existing VTS systems in two major Bulgarian ports, Varna and Bourgas, will be replaced and integrated into the regional VTMIS. In total, new equipment delivered under the contract will be set up on 33 sites coastwise on the Black sea from the Romanian frontier to the Turkish one. The acceptance tests for this strategically important project should be completed, within 10 months.