Danube Inland Harbour Development

Status Quo Report - Lom

Danube Inland Harbour Development

Title of Report

Status Quo

Sub-Activity

WP3 – A3: IWT Lab

Version 05.09.2012

draft

Date of version

Status

Main authors: External Thematic expert Ivo Stefanov External Thematic expert Evgeni Moskov

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Document History:

Version Comments Date Authorized by 1. Initial draft 05.09.2012 IS

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of DaHar project partnership and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of European Union

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CONTENTS

1. Statistics data and general information ...... 5 1.2. Brief geographical presentation ...... 5 1.2. Current property ...... 8 1.3. Legal background ...... 9 1.4. Management structure of the port ...... 10 1.5. Brief history ...... 11 1.6. Cargo turnover statistics by types for the period 2007 – 2011 ...... 12 1.7. Overall size of the port (including land and water area, warehouses and industrial zones) ...... 13 1.8. Port water area, draft and quay length ...... 14 1.9. Information about the port capabilities for handling of different types of cargoes– number of cranes and lifting capacitie, specification of the warehouses, handling rates of the main cargo types and possibilities for handling of project cargoes; ...... 14 1.10. Hinterland connections and port services ...... 15 1.10.1. Railway connections ...... 15 1.10.2. Road connections ...... 16 1.10.3. Port services ...... 16 1.11. Passenger services ...... 17 1.12. Other services – tugs, pilots, bunkering, customs and others; ...... 17 1.13. Port dues and charges ...... 18 1.13.1 Tariff of the port dues levied by the Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Company ...... 18 1.13.2 Terms and conditions of cargo handling operations and ship servicing at Port of Lom ...... 18 1.14. Current activities for port development and expansion ...... 18 1.15. Participation in joint ventures ...... 19 2. SWOT analysis includes information on five key thematic areas ...... 19 3. Sources of information ...... 21

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1. Statistics data and general information

1.2. Brief geographical presentation

Port of Lom is Bulgarian public transport port of national significance, located on Danube River.

This geographical location determines its role as a link between the heart of Europe, the Bulgarian capital and the Aegean Sea. The port complex has the potential to become a transport hub, servicing the cargoes of the Central Europe Danube river countries via Thessaloniki from/to the global markets.

Port of Lom, being a part of а port of national significance is an important logistics centre for the Bulgaian and the Trans European multimodal transport network, servicing the European transport Corridor № 7. Under the Bulgarian maritime legislation a port of а national significance is any port, which performs paid cargo handling operations and other accompanying activities to ships and land transport vechisles and which is available without limitation for all ships and cargoes.

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Among the Bulgarian ports, Lom is the nearest port to and Thessaloniki and together with this is playing a significant role not only in Corridor № 7 but also in Corridor № 4 for which can be an alternative to the Port of .

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Port of Lom is situated around 160 km. northward from Sofia, on the right bank of Danube River, which is a border line with Republic of .

The port extends from the km. 742 to km. 743 with adjacent water area between km. 736 to km. 747.800. The modern port had been built after Year 1940 and includes 3 births at the “White quay” – tilted pier on the Danube river bank and 10 births in an artificial firth. The total quay length is 1 463 m.

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The port complex is multifunctional terminal, part of the Bulgarian transport network, connected to the National and International road and railway infrastructure, offering full range of port services, performing tri-modal logistics operations – cargo handling from/to river, road and rail transport means. It is specialized in handling of bulk and general cargoes and has capacity and experience in containerized cargoes and a potential for construction and development of container and RO-RO terminals.

1.2. Current property

The theritory of the port and the adjucent fixed assets - buildings and quay front are public state-owend property under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Ports Infrasturue Company (BPIC) according Chapter VI from the Law on the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of ,. The direct control is performed by the BPIC’s Theritorial Directorate – “Port of Lom”. The Bulgarian Ports Infrasturue Company is legal entity by the Commercial Law, Article 62, Paragraph 3, based in Sofia with the following Theritorial Directorates:

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1. Port of Bourgas with operational area from the geographic parallel of the Bulgarian- Turkish border line to the geographic parallel of Cape Emine;

2. Port of Varna with operational area from the geographic parallel of Cape Emine to the geographic parallel of Bulgarian-Romanian border line;

3. Port of Lom with operational area from km 645 to km 845,650 from the Bulgarian section on the Danube river;

4. Port of Rousse with operational area from km 374,100 to km 645 from the Bulgarian section on Danube river;

The Bulgarian Port Infrastrucutre Company is managing the port infrastructure and the other fixed assets of the ports of national significance in Bulgaria.

1.3. Legal background

According Article 117 from the Law on the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, the port services at the public transport ports are performed by spcialized port operators, having or employing qualiffied personnel and euqipped with the necessary technical means to carry out the relevan services.”

The right, submitted to the port operators to carry out services at public transport ports is considered as admission to the port services market. This admission is submitted to the “Port Lom Complex” JSC by a Contract for carrying out of port services signed with the Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Company. This Contract is valid till the ellection of concesionier who will replace the state-owned operator.

In its capacity of a port operator and according to the Law on the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, Article 117, the “Port Lom Complex” JSC has the necessary equipment and qualified personnel. All technical machineries and facilities are the porperty and assets of the company.

According to Ordinance No 18, Section I, issued by the Ministry of Transport, Informational Technologies and Communications concerning the registration of the port operators in Bulgaria, the Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” keeps a register of the port operators and controls their activities according to their Certificates for operational fitness.

“Port Lom Complex” JSC as an operator of public transport port with national significance is entered in the Register of the Port operators in the area of the Directorate of Maritime Administration – Lom under No 7/12.10.05. page 25 with addrerss 3600, Lom, 21 Pristanistna str., Republic of Bulgaria and has a Certificate for operational fitness № 208 / 23.03.2009.

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1.4. Management structure of the port

According to the Law on the maritime spaces, inland waterways and ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, the control on the port operators is carried out by the Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” Sofia, and the responsibilities for the maintainance and reapair of the assets, public state-owned property such as land, quay front and buildings is governed by a Contract between the “Bulgarian Ports Infrasturue Company” and “Port Lom Complex” JSC. The Prinicipal of both, the EA “Maritime Administration” and the “Bulgarian Ports Infrasturue Company” is the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. Direct control over the port activites and the maintainance is exercised by the Theritorial Directorates of the Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” and the Bulgarian Ports Infrasturue Company.

The port operator “Port Lom Complex” JSC is a state-owned company, owned by the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications and managed by the Board of Directors appointed by the Minister.

Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

EA “Maritime “Bulgarian Ports Infrasturue Administration” Sofia Company” Sofia

TD “Maritime TD “Bulgarian Ports Administration” Lom Infrasturue Company” Lom

“Port Lom Complex” JSC

Board of Directors

Executive Director

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1.5. Brief history

The city of Lom has a rich ancient history. In antiquity times it was a Thracian settlement. Later on, when Romans conquered the Balkan Peninsula the city was named Almus. With its present name the city became known after the conquer of part of the Peninsula by the Slavic tribes.

Port of Lom has a 173-year history.

As far as the communications on the Danube River were performed by light crafts, depending in large degrees on the weather changes, the city of Lom was almost isolated from the “big world”. The situation changed dramatically in the middle of the 19-th century with the opening of the regular navigation on the “great river”. This happened in 1830 when the Austro-Magyar “Imperial and Royal Privileged Danube Shipping Company” started the navigation with its fleet. First in 1837, on his way to Galati, the steamer “Arpad” dropped anchor at Lom”. Next year – 1838, was established in Lom an Agency of the Company and was built “airframe” – i.e. port pier.

With the opening of the Austro-Magyar Shipping Agency in Lom started the rapid economic boom of the city. The Center European merchants started to search for convenient ports along the river through which to facilitate their economic penetration into the Ottoman Empire. That turned out to be Lom. With its extremely favorable geographic situation it boated many other cities along Danube and was chosen by the practical Western European traders.

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From Lom daily traveled hundreds of oxen and buffalos with carts loaded with salt and other import cargoes via to , Nis and Vranje, via Petrohan to Sofia, , Kjustendil, via Orhanie to Constantinople and etc. Near the port were built a lot of warehouses for cargoes discharged by the barges.

After 1838 the inflow of foreigners in Lom increased a lot. Most of them were commissioners, agents and representatives of big European companies who came in Lom in order to make the new port, whose enormous commercial importance they did not hesitate to consider, their home office. Very soon here, on the Danube river bank appeared number of commercial firms. In the middle of the last century in Lom already existed substantial group of local merchants with big international contacts who traded directly with big companies from Leipzig, , Pest, Braila, Galati, Odessa and others.

In 1948 were delivered the first three cranes. In 1951 was finished the piling quay wall in the firth and the tilted pier on Danube River. In 1952 was delivered one 10 tons capacity crane, 5 tugs “Staer” and trailers and in 1953 the first 3 tons capacity electrical crane. With the construction of another warehouse and the delivery of two 5 tons capacity electrical cranes in 1955, the port of Lom became a modern port at Danube River.

1.6. Cargo turnover statistics by types for the period 2007 – 2011

The cargo turnover water/land statistics for the period from 2007 – 2011 is as follows:

Cargo code type 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 21 Ores 607 928 270 557 37 639 54 918 23 142 22 Coals 295 185 226 777 173 928 174 797 164 891 23 Cereals 18 756 44 475 58 189 118 650 128 571 24 Coke 78 723 11 333 5 069 2 586 9 277 25 Inert materials 36 712 6 845 10 823 11 777 36 564 29 Others in bulk 20 990 37 276 16 492 19 567 19 921 71 Passengers 0 0 0 0 0 91 Wood and wooden materials 2 394 - - 1 300 6 372 92 Metals and metal constructions 293 803 184 894 41 999 32 884 16 612 99 Others 12 035 23 647 14 173 13 976 18 604 TOTAL: 1 366 526 807 812 360 321 432 465 425 965

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In graphic form the cargo turnover statistics by types for the period 2007 – 2011 is as follows:

700 000 600 000 2007 500 000 2008 400 000 2009 300 000 2010 200 000 2011 100 000 0

Ores Coals Coke Cereals Others Passengers Inert materialsOthers in bulk

Wood and wooden materials Metals and metal constructions

This statistics shows some general tendencies – after the collapse of the biggest metallurgical plant in Bulgaria – Kremicovtzy, the main client for the port, the structure of the cargo flow dramatically changed and decreased from 1.3 mil.mts to 0.5 mil. mts. The ore was not any more available and the metal products merely disappeared due to the crises and due to the fact that the other ex client – Stomana Industry, Pernic bought its own terminal in Svistov and forwarded most of its cargo there. The increase of the cereals cannot compensate the dramatic change.

1.7. Overall size of the port (including land and water area, warehouses and industrial zones) Port main characteristics:

Port description Measurement Total port area 299 380 m2 Births 13 Total quay length 1 463 m Draft (designed) 1.8 m Open store area 60 200 m2 Covered store area 9 468 m2 Liquid store capacity 188 m3

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1.8. Port water area, draft and quay length

The adjacent water area is 88 000 m2 between km. 736 to km. 747.800 of Danube river.

The overall quay front is 1 463 m.

The maximal designed drought at the berths is 1.8 m. and the real depth especially inside the firth depends on the fluctuation of the river level during the year. Low shipping regulation level (NKNR) in Lom is 166 cm, and the number of days with levels lower or higher than NKNR a year for the period 1980 - 2011 is presented in the following graph:

400

350

300

250 number of days with levels higher than NKRN 200 number of days with levels lower 150 than NKRN

100

50

0

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

1.9. Information about the port capabilities for handling of different types of cargoes – number of cranes and lifting capacitie, specification of the warehouses, handling rates of the main cargo types and possibilities for handling of project cargoes;

Port of Lom is multifunctional port handling bulk, general and other goods. The port covers 5 quay and 13 berths. The first, the second and the third are at the river bank. Berths from fourth to ninth are located on the west side of the firth. The south side includes one berth (No 10) and at the east side - three (11, 12 and 13).

The main equipment and facilities for cargo handling are 22 loading cranes with lifting

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capacity from 5 to 20 tons, specially designed for bulk cargo terminal at berths 11 and 12 sheds, warehouses and flat stores of 9468 sq.m and open areas - 60 200 sq.m. The port also has parking space for cars and trucks, and well developed rail infrastructure servicing the quay front. The maneuvering is performed by own fleet consisting of 2 tugs and 2 boats.

The total port area covers 299,380 sq. m., including 88,000 sq m water area.

The capacity of the port in the current mode of operation is as follows: berth throughput - 3,100 thousand tons / year. or up to 4,000 thousand tons / year. Entry into operation on 12 and 13 berths and storage - about 5,680 thousand tons / year, it is necessary to bear in mind that the bandwidth is different for different types of loads.

1.10. Hinterland connections and port services

1.10.1. Railway connections

The port is connected with the national rail network by a link to Lom the railway station.

Further on, the access to the main railroad Nr 700 – Vidin – is by electrified, secondary, single line Nr 772 from Lom to .

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1.10.2. Road connections

Port of Lom is connected with the national road network through the city streets.?

The road № 81 to Sofia is a second class two-way road. The other national road № 11, running along the river bank, connecting Vidin, Lom and Nikopol is also a second class two-way road. The other roads in are third class.

Port road and rail infrastructure is well developed and allows handling of various cargo types.

1.10.3. Port services

According to Chapter VII, Article 116, Paragraph 2, item 2 from the Law on the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, port services are all activities for handling cargo and mail – loading and unloading, stowing, storing, repackaging and in-port transportation. “Port Lom Complex” JSC performs the port handling services according to its Srtificate for operational fitness issued by EA ”Maritime administration.

In the port of Lom handle general and bulk cargo handling machines and equipment. There is an option for handling containers, container, or de.?

Having well developed rail and road infrastructure and connection with the national transport network, “Port Lom Complex” JSC is offering trimodal water/road/rail handling services, such as:

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 Mechanical and manual movement of vehicles  Loading/discharging from/to water and land transport means.  Pri-/on-carriage from/to covered and open port store areas  Cargo stowing on/from vehicles or in warehouses

Operations are: ship - berth, ship - car, boat - car, car - dock; wagon - a ship, a car - dock, car – ship.

In the port of Lom perform storage and transportationл

1.11. Passenger services

According its Sertificate for operational fitness , “Port Lom Complex” JSC is performing services for embarking and disembariking of passengers from/on vessels.

1.12. Other services – tugs, pilots, bunkering, customs and others;

According to Chapter VII, Article 116, Paragraph 2, item 1 from the Law on the maritime spaces, inland waterways and ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, the port operators can provide marine and technical services. “Port Lom Complex” JSC is offering the full scale of these services, such as tugs and pilots services, bunkering, customs formalities, water and electricity supply, servicing of unmanned crafts, pontoon services and others.

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1.13. Port dues and charges

1.13.1 Tariff of the port dues levied by the Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Company According the Law on the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, Article 103, Pargraph 4, the Bulgarian Port Infrastructure Company collects port dues from vessels, visiting Bulgarian public transport ports with national significance as followes:

- For the visit of a vessel in a public transport river port with national significance are levied tonnage charges - For using of a quay or a pontoon in a public transport river port with national significance for cargo handling operations are levied quay fees.

All port dues are determined by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers upon the proposal of the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications.

1.13.2 Terms and conditions of cargo handling operations and ship servicing at Port of Lom

As a port operator, “Port Lom Complex” JSC performs paid cargo hadling, ships and warehouse services at terms according to:

- The Tariff for port handling, storage and expeditionary services carried out to import, export, transit and cabotage cargoes and the submitted additional forwarding activities.

- The Tariff for services rendered to vessels at port of Lom, such as – pontoon services, winterizing, bunkering, water and electricity supply, maneuvering, passengers servicing and others.

All the terms and conditions are approved by the Board of Directors of “Port Lom Complex” JSC on annual basis.

1.14. Current activities for port development and expansion

At the time of this study, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications is conducting a procedure for the provision of port concession.

Under process of construction is the river information system at the Bulgarian part of river Danube – BULRIS. The Project is aiming to provide the necessary organizational

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and technical structure for harmonized informational river services and is the Bulgarian part of the Pan-European system for effective and safe inland waters navigation.

The project is intended to provide the necessary organizational and technical architecture for the provision of harmonized river information services and is part of the Pan-national system to ensure efficient and safe navigation on inland waterways. Final date for the implementation of the Project is 01.Sep.2014 г.

1.15. Participation in joint ventures “Port Lom Complex” JSC as state owned port operator do not perticipates in any joint ventures.

2. SWOT analysis includes information on five key thematic areas 1.1. Logistics; 1.2. Hinterland connections - road and rail transport links; 1.3. Container, RO-RO/RO-LA; 1.4. RIS; 1.5. Terms of navigation and environmental protection;

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SWOT ANALYS

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

1. Location 1. Road connection trough the 2. Railway connection city 3. A big area 2. Navigability 4. Clear ownership 3. Not enough industry in the 5. Trimodal connection region 6. Infrastructure 4. Not enough covered storage 5. Old equipment 6. Pollutions OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

1. Touristic development 1. Port of Vidin 2. Agriculture, silos 2. Not variety of cargos 3. Optimization of port and operation 4. The port will be part of national logistic chain 5. Concession

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3. Sources of information www.marad.bg www.portlom.bg www.appd-bg.org Executive Agency "Maritime Administration" Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River

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