site.btaMaritime Administration Introduces New Tanker Control Zone at Burgas Bay

In response to growing public concern over recurring noxious fumes from petroleum products in Burgas, the Maritime Administration is establishing a 35-kilometer control zone in the waters of Burgas Bay. Tankers waiting to anchor will be prohibited from entering this zone, the municipal administration's press center announced on Wednesday.

As the main user of petroleum products in the municipality Lukoil Neftochim Burgas is currently working with a combination of light and heavy oil. In order to maintain a normal technological regime, part of the deliveries are carried out by ship-to-ship transfer in open waters.

This has been happening as close as 35 km from Burgas for several weeks, the Municipality stressed, adding that the problem arises with tankers carrying light oil, which until now have been waiting for a raid near the coast. According to experts, at high temperatures this type of oil evaporates easily and in large quantities, which is probably the reason for the pungent smell felt in the air above Burgas in recent weeks.

By order of the Maritime Administration from Wednesday, all tankers, regardless of their cargo or their final port, must wait in the designated 35-kilometre zone in the open sea. Permission to berth will be given only after confirmation by the port operators, and navigation manoeuvres will be coordinated by the Burgas Ship Traffic Management. After raising anchor, ships must move directly to the port without interruption, avoiding any additional stop or stay near the shore, the order also says.

The aim of introducing a security zone is to limit the evaporation of oil fractions and improve air quality in coastal settlements, the Municipality pointed out.