site.btaProcedural Changes Regarding Checks of Cruise and Commercial Ships Arriving by Sea in Force from March 31

From 31 March, with the first full implementation of the Schengen acquis, there will be some procedural changes in the implementation of border checks of passengers arriving by sea on cruise ships, as well as in relation to commercial ships, said Chief Inspector Antonia Tomova from the Border Police in Burgas  on Thursday.

Passengers on cruise ships visiting Bulgarian ports coming from Schengen countries will not be subject to border checks. Passengers on cruise ships coming from a third country, for example, if the ship comes from Istanbul, will be subject to border checks, explained Tomova.

Border checks are carried out at specialized terminals, at places specially equipped for the purpose. There are such at in Burgas, in Nessebar and in Varna.

There will also be a change in border checks regarding yachts. When such a vessel comes from Schengen to a Bulgarian port, the persons on board the yacht will not be subject to border checks. The new changes provide that yachts can moor at a marina where there is no border control checkpoint, however, those coming from a third country should be subject to border control.

As for cargo ships that visit Bulgarian ports, the main leading factor will also be the destination from which they arrive, Tomova said.

The risk analysis method will be applied to all vessels visiting Bulgarian ports. Compensatory measures will also be used.

Stamen Popov, deputy head of the Border Police in Burgas, explained that the compensatory measures are a complex of measures, including international police cooperation, in-depth risk analysis, police checks, both independent and joint actions, including checks in the information systems of the Interior Ministry and the Schengen Information System. They will apply to all vessels that have not undergone a border inspection.