Any master attending the port of Varna is bound to become acquainted with the detailed text of the obligatory rules and regulations of the shipping agency.

I. GENERAL

2. The observance of all rules and regulations is obligatory for:

a) All vessels flying under Bulgarian flag notwithstanding their ownership and possession except for the military vessels;

b) All vessels flying under foreign flags;

c) Any persons-members of ships crews, workers and officials in the ports and other services when their activity is connected with navigation as well as any person being in the territorial and inner waters of the republic of Bulgaria notwithstanding his official status and citizenship. the mentioned persons are not allowed to misbehave and use disparaging words and expressions in their relations with the state inspectorate of shipping and other authorities.
 

III. FREE PRATIQUE

7. All foreign going vessels having arrived at roadsteads and port are forbidden to get into contact with the shore till receiving their free pratique.

8. Vessels can receive or stop their free pratique at roadsteads as well as at ports.

124. Throwing of any rubbish, refuse and dirty water, petrol by-products and others overboard is forbidden.

158. There must be kept due watch and duties on any vessels berthed at the quays of the port and on the gangway or upper desk there must be continuously a watchman who is obliged to have a distinguishing armband on his sleeve.
After berthing at the quay any ship must have rat guards on the mooring ropes.
With the purpose of ensuring safety treatment of the ship and in case of an eventual shifting of the same to another berth without delay within the established terms, any vessel, being in the port must provide a part of the crew on beard.

159. All masters of the vessels are obliged to immediately inform the harbor master about the accidents and diseases that have occurred on board during the sojourn in the area of the port.

IV. HARBOUR SIGNAL STATION

14. The roads signal post is under the command of the harbor master in realization of the control of the roadsteads, the water areas of the port and the canals.

16. The roads signal post signals are obligatory for all ships in the water areas of the roadsteads and ports.
 

V. PILOTAGE

23. Sea pilotage is not obligatory for vessels nearing Varna bay from point n=1 (in front of the cape of "KALIAKRA"and point n=2 (in front of the cape of "EMINE"). Foreign ships, asking for sea pilotage along the fairways should engage a pilot through their agent by 24 hour preliminary notice and a 12 hour notice of acknowledgment before the vessels arrival at the
corresponding point.

26. Radio-contact for foreign vessels is arranged through the international coastal radio station"Varna-radio"with frequency-500 khz, 2180 khz and on 16 VHF channel. The latter works night and day. The pilot station is to be called on 14 VHF channel.

27. Bringing the vessels from the roadsteads to the  port and out again, as well as their shifting from one quay to the other is to be compulsory carried out with a pilot on board.

28. Inner pilotage - leading the vessels in and out along the inner water ways: canals, lakes, etc. is obligatory.

33. Port and inner pilotage for vessels over 1000  GT  is to be accomplished compulsory with the assistance of tugboats. Their minimum number must be defined by the pilot in coordination with the ship Master.

VI. REGULATIONS THE TUGBOATS WORK IN THE REGION OF THE PORT OF VARNA

37. The control and ruling of the tugboats work in the process of tugging (maneuvering) is under the command of the tugboats Master. The Port is not responsible for the tugboat Masters actions and the losses that have arisen as a result of the damages caused to the ship that is being tugged, the other ships of port facilities.

39. Taxes are obligatory for any master of ship when tugboats are sent at the disposition whether they have been employed or not.

VII. REGULATIONS THE NAVIGATION OF VESSELS ALONG THE FAIRWAYS AND CANALS

44. The navigation of all ships in the territorial and inner waters of the peoples republic of Bulgaria is carried out according to the fair ways and recommended courses announced in the"Notice to Mariners". All dangerous areas and those forbidden for navigation are declared there too.

45. Navigation of ships under sails, fishing and using of fishing nets and accessories in the water ways and canals is forbidden.

44. During navigation along the water ways and canals the ships crew members are forbidden:

-to make films and take photos;

-to sound the sea with sounding and other devices for safety except at pilots request when necessary;

-to throw refuse, dirty water and petrol by-products overboard;

-to have gangways, derricks, cranes, refuse tanks, etc. astern of board.

60. Approaching the port of Varna can take place from point n=1 and point n=2 according to the declared water ways and the traffic separation scheme. Leaving the port and setting off for the open sea will take place in the way back.

66. Pilotage with visibility less than 500 m is forbidden.

67. In the lake along the fairways where the two-way traffic is allowed making up on a ship and outselling will be allowed in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea-1972.

81. Mooring and unmooring of ships in the area of the lake of Varna can only take place with a pilot on board.

B-A. NAVIGATION ALONG CANALS N=1 AND N=2

75. Navigation along canals n=1 and n=2 is one way. It is carried out by day and night with a maximum speed up to 6 knots and according to the draft declared by the harbor master.

76. Pilotage along the canals is allowed up to 9 m/sec. wind speed for  ships under ballast and up to 12 m/sec.m for ships loaded down.
 

VIII. REGULATIONS FOR NAVIGATION OF SHIPS IN THE ROADS AND WHILE LAYING ANCHOR AT THE PORT OF VARNA

96. All ships arriving or riding at anchor near the port of Varna are obliged to observe the signal of the roads signal station and the state inspectorate of shipping- Varna.
All ships can lie at anchor at the roadsteads-anchorages declared only in the "notice to the mariners" for summer time respectively-from the 1st of October till the 30th of  April with the following coordinates according to charts 1251 and 201-bulgarian edition.
 

      SUMMER
1.lat.=43c 09,3n       long.=027c 57.1e
2.lat.=43c 09,0n       long.=027c 58,1e
3.lat.=43c 06,0n       long.=027c 56,5e
4.lat.=43c 06,0n       long.=027c 57,8e

      WINTER
1.lat.=43c 12,5n       long.=027c 57,7e
2.lat.=43c 12,8n       long.=028c 00,0e
3.lat.=43c 11,8n       long.=028c 00,0e

or according to English charts 2285/april 1980 and according to the "admiralty notice to mariners" no.855.18.04.81 for chart 2285.

102. All vessels being in the territorial waters of the peoples republic of Bulgaria are obliged:

-to have their national flags displayed and as far as foreign ships are concerned they must raise the Bulgarian flag on the foremast too from 08/00 till sunset;

-to hoist the flag Q(Quebec) according to the international signal code-1965 till receiving a free pratique;

-all vessels navigating along the approaching railways and those riding at anchor at the roadsteads of Varna port are the first to salute the warships passing by them during the light part of the day and night by hauling down and hoisting up their national flag;

-to follow the storm and other signals shown by the roads signal post;

-depending on the hydrometeological conditions to keep the engines ready for providing safety of anchorage;

-to ensure 1/2 of the crew-memebers at least on board including a radiotelegraph officer and there must also be  maintained day and night watch on the bridge continuously, thus following permanently the position of the ship;

-if there is VHF station on board it must be permanently connected to channel 16;

-during maneuvering or lying at anchor all vessels must implement the established regulations and signals according to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea-1972;

-on arrival at the roadsteads they have to get in touch with the roads signal post and announce their name and calling letters and nationality as well as the last post.

118. All foreign vessels being at the roadsteads are allowed to use their low-powered VHF, middle wave stations and radio-telephone stations in connection only with the coast radio station"Varna-radio".
This right cannot be used for radio connection with other coastal radio-stations, other ships being at the roadsteads, ports or transit passing vessels, no matter whether they are in the territorial waters or in the open sea.

124. Vessels riding at anchor are forbidden:

-to keep their ladders lowered to the water level;

-to have their boats and rafts lowered and used;

-bathing of crew-members;

-to lower divers and carry out diving operations;

-taking any persons aboard without a permission of the immigration authorities except for those attending the vessel on business in rendering assistance to drowning people;

-to sound the sea;

-to take photos, make film and sketches etc.;

-shooting rockets, firing air-guns and firearms except in case of accidents;

-throwing any king of rubbish, dirty water and petrol by-products overboard;

-mooring ships near the entrance port lights;

-using ships sirens except when required by the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea-72.

125. Using of private boats and any small craft and ships lifesaving boats for embarking and disembarking of crew-members is forbidden. Carriage of persons in a drunken state and going ashore from a ship when deterioration of weather is expected are not allowed.

IX. REGULATIONS FOR ENTERING, MANEUVERING, SOJOURN AND DEPARTURE OF SHIPS FROM:

a) The port of Varna

135. All vessels entering the post must give way to vessels leaving the port in compliance with the acting International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea-72.

143. All vessels berthed at the quays must have reliable and secure gangways equipped with devices necessary for ensuring security. Gangways must be well lighted during the night. Snow and ice must be removed by covering with salt and sand in winter.

146. Ships authorities are forbidden to put out of operation engines and equipment providing the possibility for maneuvering and safety of the ship without the permission of the harbor master.

160. Loading and unloading of dangerous cargo in the port can only take place after a preliminary permission by the harbor master at definite berths and time. Before carrying out of loading and unloading the ship must have taken all fire precaution measures for ensuring safety of work which is in compliance with the requirements of the fire precaution protection in the port.
In case of bulk cargo treatment-phosphates, coal, ore, grain, etc. the port is obliged to run canvases between the ships side and the quay for preventing any omission of goods in the sea and covering the sea bottom.

161. All ships' crew-members on board of ships being at the quay are forbidden:

- to use their radio stations;

- to scavenge their boilers by steam and air;

- to load their vessel contrary to the regulations and the good sea practice for carriage of cargoes, exceeding the heel more than 8 and presence of a cargo breaking visibility for the proper handling of the ship;

- to load the vessel over the minimum draught indicated in the ships documents;

- to clear up all overgrowths on both ships sides and remove the rust;

- smoking in the region of the stores and holds and all are indicated in article 124.

b) The area of the tanker quays

177. Maneuvering for riding at the fuel oil quays can be carried out only of the outlets of the cargo and ballast tanks are closed. Ballasting in the time of maneuvering is forbidden.

178. Tankers at the fuel oil quays must be securely berthed bearing in mind the intensive traffic of the ships and presence of stream in the canal.

180. No loading and unloading operations are allowed unless there are boundary bulkheads, reliable earthing appliances, houses fixed and mats and tins applied under the joints.

181. During the loading/unloading operations the tanker must have a flag"B"(bravo)hoisted up according to the international signal system-1965 and during the night-a red light.

184. Seawards, from the bow and the stern of the tanker there must be towropes with eye splices lowered and the mooring ropes.

186. Fire-precaution equipment must be provided for immediate action before carrying out loading/unloading operations.

187. The passage from the gangway to the flying bridge along the desk must be carpeted with mats and guard rails.

189. In case of fire on board of a tanker the fire brigade should be immediately called-tel.160 and fire extinguishing should be organized by crew own efforts and means.

193. The tankers master is obliged to be well acquainted with and strictly fulfil the requirements of the international convention for prevention of oil pollution-1954 and its additions.

226. In case of fire on board the master is in command of all fire precaution operation until the fire is completely extinguished and when he is not on board his substitute gets the charge.

3/. The port of Balchik

212. Pilotage till berthing at the quay of Balchik and back to the outer road of the port of Varna is carried out by a Bulgarian pilot. Moorage in the area of the port of Balchik is forbidden.
 
 
 

III. SALVAGE ACTIVITY IN THE PORT OF VARNA

212. Salvage works in the port of Varna are accomplished by a salvage vessel.

253. All salvage works are carried out under the direction of the harbor master.
 

XIV. FINAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

257. For an offence against the regulations of the present "rules and regulations" the offenders are liable to fines according to article 368 of the code of the merchant fleet, article 352, 352a, 353 of the criminal code and order o.1248/5.12.78 of the ministry of transport. acts and criminal ordinances are composed in Bulgarian language.

259. The fines imposed do not appear as an act dispensing the offenders from responsibility for all damage, claims and other possible effects resulting directly from an offence of whatsoever regulation of the present "obligatory rules and regulations". For definite infringements the offenders could be brought to justice in accordance with the legislation of the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria.