Port History
History and Development of Port Terminal Odesos PBM
The port terminal is located on the territory of the former Second Zone of the Varna Shipyard and has a quay wall 498 meters long, built by a Dutch company in 1937 for the needs of the German Navy. After 1944, the quay wall, situated along the old canal, together with the entire designated area behind it, was used for shipbuilding and ship repair. A complete reconstruction of the wharf and berthing facilities was carried out in the mid-1960s as part of the Varna Shipyard “Georgi Dimitrov,” with operational requirements for a fitting-out quay and a depth of 7.0 meters in front of the quay.
In 2005, the company obtained registration as a “Port for Public Transport of Regional Importance” along with an Operating Fitness Certificate. Cargo handling operations involving ship consignments commenced in November 2006. Since then, the port has been providing handling and storage of cargo to and from vessels, trucks, and railway wagons, as well as specialized services such as containerization, decontainerization, packaging, blending, and labeling. The extensive storage facilities, comprising open and covered warehouses and specialized packaging zones, enable flexible and efficient customer service with solutions tailored to specific client requirements.
Technological Development and Innovation
In 2017, the first proprietary version of the terminal management system “O-Link” was introduced, later renamed “Poseidon” in its subsequent versions. The system was gradually expanded to include four levels of advanced functionality. This integrated planning, control, and reporting matrix provides full process traceability and is considered a pioneering solution with no direct equivalent, laying the foundations for digitalization and modern terminal operations management.
In 2019, a bulk cargo packaging zone was implemented, designed by Dutch technologists who applied best international practices adapted to regional characteristics and local regulatory requirements. This enhancement significantly improved efficiency, occupational safety, and the quality of fertilizer handling operations.
Master Plan and Modern Infrastructure Solutions
In December 2025, the first phase of the Port Master Plan was commissioned, including:
- A deep-water berth with a depth of -12.50 m and a length of 221 m, enabling the accommodation of larger vessels;
- Expanded and modernized warehousing facilities;
- A second access gate to increase terminal throughput capacity;
- Additional weighbridges;
- A sampling area equipped with two automatic probes for cargo control and analysis.
At present, the port operates four universal berths with a total length of 648 m, designed for handling general cargo, Ro-Ro and bulk cargo, containers, non-hazardous liquid cargo, as well as hazardous cargo classified under IMO Class 4, Subclass 4.1 “Flammable Solids” and Class 5, Subclass 5.1 “Oxidizing Substances”.
The completed expansion of the port terminal creates additional opportunities for the future development of the region as a potential logistics hub along the Asia–Europe axis. Its geographical location, available water depths, and modern infrastructure reveal significant potential for integration into transport and trade flows established under the “ One Belt One Road" initiative, as well as for strengthening its role as a reliable maritime alternative and complementary component of European Transport Corridor No. 7, connecting the inland transport network along the Danube River with the Black Sea region.
