Concession of Balchik Port Terminal for a period of 25 years was awarded to Port Balchik AD to be effective as of 25 May 2006.  This was the first implemented concession of Bulgarian sea port.

The culminating point in the series of events dedicated to the celebration of the Port’s 100th anniversary was the official ceremony which took place at Varna Passenger Terminal on 18 May 2006.  The ceremony started at 6 p.m. sharp when the key managers of the maritime business and the city appeared on the stage.  The Executive Director of the Port Mr. Danail Papazov welcomed the guests and congratulated the port staff.  Then the Minister of Transport Mr. Petar Mutafchiev acknowledged the good results achieved by the Port and presented the honours medal of the Ministry of Transport.  Among the official guests were: the Mayor of Varna Mr. Kyril Yordanov, the District Governor Mr. Petar Kandilarov, the Chairman of City Council Mr. Borislav Gutsanov, the commander-in-chief of Bulgarian Navy Adm. Minko Kavaldgiev, the Principal of Higher Naval School Capt. Stanko Stankov, the Honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Marseilles Mr. Denis Danset.  A greeting address from the President of Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Georgy Parvanov was presented.  Over 100 companies and organizations also had sent their congratulations.  After the official speeches, the Minister and the Port Director unveiled the Memorial of Varna Port Builders and validated a special post card of the Port’s 100th anniversary.  

The pouring rain did not spoiled the good spirits of the guests and the port staff who enjoyed the special concert on the occasion.  More than 250 friends and clients of the port were welcomed at a cocktail party, including representatives of ports and companies from Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Croatia, Germany, France and Belgium.  The night of festivities was closed with impressive fireworks which illuminated the sky of Varna. 

The passenger lounge at Varna Passenger Terminal housed an exhibition of 20 panels with photos and documents presenting the historical evolution of the port from antiquity to the present day.  The most interesting part was the collection of old photos made by renowned Varna’s photographers in the beginning of 20th century which take us back to the time of building of the port.  

Designer of the exhibition was Ralitsa Doneva.  Three original exhibits attracted particular attention: the authentic port layout designed by A. Guerard, a stock share of the Anonymous Public Company for port building dated 1897 and a 500 Lev bill of 1940 with a picture of Varna port on its face.

In addition to historical background of the port, the new art section of the exhibition showed the nominated pictures in the photo contest for report and art photography named “ The Port and the City: 100 Years Later”. This event was organized and financed by Port of Varna EAD.  The winners in the contest were announced by a professional jury and received their awards from the Port Executive Director Mr. Danail Papazov.  First prize for art photography was awarded to Efrosina Peeva, followed by Constantin Fialkovski and Nikolay Zidarov.  The awarded photographers in the report section were Radoslav Petkov, Plamen Mihailov and Petko Momchilov.

The exhibition opening was also an opportunity the present the new anthology “Port of Varna, 1347-1906, Documents and Materials” issued by “Morski Svyat” publishing house.  The book was compiled by Boris Dryanovski, the State Archive Director in Varna.  Most of the documents were published for the first time.

It was an idea of the management of Port of Varna EAD to publish a book tracing back the history of the port from the ancient age up to the present.  An editorial team was appointed for this purpose leaded by the port PR officer Tihomir Bozhanov.  Work started last summer to collect and make a selection of photos and newly found documents and facts of the port history.  The editors sought to retrieve the spirit of the past times and to reproduce the port evolution.

Huge research work was done in the archives of the local museums, Varna State Archive, the Central State Archive in Sofia, the National Library "St. Cyril and Methodius", Varna Transport Library and antique bookshops throughout the country.  Private collectors were contacted in Marseilles, Genova, Trieste and even in Sweden in the effort to find photos and documents. 

Today, the anniversary edition named "100th  Anniversary of Port of Varna" is a fact.  The glossy book in format 25/30 cm contains 168 pages with 301 photos selected from totally 3243 pictures.  It is printed in 700 copies, and 3 tons of paper were used for its production.  The design was made by Visual Marketing Studio managed by Ivan Popov.  The book was printed on the presses of Pasat Press of Varna.