On 14th September, in the presence of governor of the Varna District, the executive director of Port of Varna Danail Papazov, representatives of marine business, deputies, the minister of the transport and communications Nikolai Vassilev a new pass road for tracks and a grain unloading station were officially open. The new installations are the larger part of the investment program of the port for 2003, amounting 3 million leva(1.5 mil. Euro).

Construction of new road is necessitated the enhanced depreciation and insufficient capacity of this main gate for the tracks passing to Port of Varna-East. This road was 8 wide and didn't allow tracks easily pass each other.

The new pass road is 14.25 meters wide, with 3 roadways, each with a carrying capacity of 90 tons. There is an electronic scale on the road, equipped with 2 platforms, that allow weighing of the tracks without causing traffic problems. The plan of the traffic control is worked out, that will allow the capacity of Varna-East to increase up to 3 times. The investment is financed by the Port Authority and "Port of Varna" EAD, end amounts 1.3 million leva (750 000 Euro), 878 000 leva (439 000 Euro) provided by the Port Authority. "Port of Varna" EAD to provide the rest of the amount.

The other construction, already put in to operation, has solved another problem in the port, namely the impossibility of discharging of grain carrier wagons. For that reason realize an investment of 700 000 leva (350 000 Euro) for constructing of a grain unloading station and additional infrastructure to it in the area of the biggest warehouse in the Port of Varna-East. "Port of Varna" EAD makes the investment by means of equipment of the company "Broshot" – France. The installation will be part of a storage base and system of belt conveyors for direct unloading of grain into the warehouse.

The capacity of the machine is 250 tons/hour and will allow 300 000 tons of grain carried by with railway transport in Varna-East to be handled during the grain export campaign.

On 9th August, Port of Varna EAD became the first of the biggest Bulgarian ports a certificate for management of quality ISO 9001:2000. The company SGS accredited by the British accrediting organization "Ukas" performed the audit. The procedures for certification of the port were accomplished a year. Two hundred people, port staff, completed an education course for applying the quality systems. The management team of the port began putting in practice the part of the systems of quality management, named "Client feedback". Periodically questionnaire forms that will be filled and returned back to the port. Thus, an objective evaluation of the system is received.

Bringing into use of management quality systems will guarantee steady firm development on the base of improved company image, better adopting and raise of confidence in clients and personnel.

Certificate for management of quality ISO 9001:2000 is valid for a term of 3 years and will be confirmed every year.

Cargoes at 13th and 14th quay in Port of Varna-West will be handled with "Power Screen" belt conveyors. Machines will serve cargo flows of the company "Kaolin", Senovo. Mainly bulk quartz sand will be loaded. Till now cargoes at these quays were handled only with cranes.

The four segment structure has 90 meters of common length. They are intended for work under the "store-vessel" direct sheme. These sheme decreases spilling of cargo and cuts down expenses for the cargo shipment. Another 3 segments are to be delivered until completion of the project

The conveyor capasity is 300 tons per hour, and it is operated by one person. "Power Screen" are made in Northern Ireland. The value of the structure is 350 000 leva (175 000 Euro).

Copper concentrate for Belgian "Umicore" will be handled in a similar way, but using belt conveyors of the Bulgarian company "Mir", Montana. "Umicore" already signed a commercial contract with "Port of Varna" EAD for handling of their cargoes. For "Umicore" vessels will use berth №2 in Varna-West.

On the strength of the Law on Sea Spaces, Inland Water Ways and the Ports of Republic of Bulgaria, and by order dated 29.12.2002 of the minister of the transport Plamen Petrov, the process of transferring the land of "Port of Varna" EAD to the state began.

Thus, all of the port land, on which the open and closed storage area including quays, berths, railways, underground cables etc. are situated, becomes state property under control and management of Executive Agency "Port Authority". The total area of this land in the three port units Varna-East, Varna-West and Balchik is 1.7 million m2.

"Port of Varna" EAD will use this state property free, in accordance with a contract for right of use, signed with the Port Authority.

Till now the land was included in the balance sheet of "Port of Varna" EAD. Making it a state property gives a green light to the concession of port terminals.