Yachting in Bulgaria

Sofia Echo, Elitsa Grancharova

At the end of June, the Bulgarian yacht importer Yachting Bularia exhibited boats at the port in Sozopol Black Sea resort. The most expensive one was sold for 3.6 million leva on June 23.
One of the yachts Atlantis 55, was sold to a Bulgarian businessman for 2,25 million lv, and Azimut 43 for 1.4 million leva, to a construction entrepreneur. Yachting.bg is one of the three biggest yachts traders in Europe, reported Bulgarian news agency BTA.
The yacht show was the first of its kind in Bulgaria and the company also presented the Bavaria, Chaparral 276 SSX and Frauscher yachts. Yachting Bulgaria is the exclusive representative of these types of yachts for Bulgaria and Romania.
Following this event, during a meeting of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) with seaside beach concessionaires in Sunny Beach on July 6, Bourgas region deputy governor Georgi Nikolchev said that a new regulation on sailing and the border system of the Bulgarian area of the Black Sea was being prepared. The document will regulate the movements of all yachts and boats used for sport and tourism. During the meeting, CPC representatives and the beach concessionaires also discussed safety services offered on the beaches. According to Bourgas regional CPC directorate chief Nikolay Stoykov, there was widespread interest in the subject, given that more than two thirds of the beach managers attended the meeting.
On July 2, Bulgarian language Investor BG reported that Dutch investors are planning to build a marina in another Black sea settlement, Byala. The development is part of a new Dutch-Norwegian holiday village planned for the coast. Until the construction is ready, the Dutch investors had reportedly been ready with equipment that was able to accommodate 25 to 30 yachts at the marina site.
Byala mayor Ilian Tsonev said the biggest problem facing a future marina in the town was ownership. According to him, these developments have to remain municipal property, even through pubic-private partnerships, so that it is easier for the regulations to be met when building a marina for small boats. In his opinion, this is a factor currently restricting tourism in this area.
Byala had a licence to build a marina and fishing port but the municipality needed two million leva to construct it.
On July 2, Bulgarian language Dnevnik reported that the Tsarevo, Pomorie and Achtopol municipalities are to create mixed companies with investors who will construct marinas in the three seaside towns. This was said by the mayors at a meeting with the Minister of Transport Petar Mutafchiev.
After a proposal by Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), the ports became municipal property through the amendments to the Port Act. However the ports in Sozopol and Nessebar remained on the list of those for which the state will look for concessionaires.
Mutafchief said the decision provides opportunities for extra income in the municipalities and creates suitable conditions for the development of yacht tourism. He said the MTC will give the ports municipal-private statute after it is clear that the development projects are fulfilled.
The plans for Pomorie are for the construction of an international marina with two zones. There will be a second embankment and entertainment points. To realise 70 per cent of the project the municipality needs eight million leva and is now looking at different possibility for finance. Pomorie mayor Petur Zlatanov said businessmen from Finland and St. Petersburg were interested in mooring their yachts at Pomorie.
Tsarevo major Petko Arnaudov said he intended to develop the local harbour as a port for yachts, passengers and fishing. Currently about 30 yachts in Tsarevo are anchored. Some Italian investors and investors from Monaco have expressed interest in the port.