Bulgaria pushes for a Ro-Ro line with Turkey between the ports of Burgas and Karasu

Burgas, Bulgaria (Ports Europe) January 9, 2022 – Bulgaria keeps pushing for the establishment of a Ro-Ro line between the country’s second largest Black Sea port of Burgas (Bourgas) and the port of Karasu in Turkey, the largest Ro-Ro port in the Black Sea. Karasu is Turkey’s main centre for transport to Central Europe. It is located in Northwest Turkey, east of Istanbul. Bulgaria wants this Ro-Ro line, Transport of Communications Minister Nikolai Sabev told Turkish Ambassador to Sofia Aylin Sekizkok on January 7, adding that this is going to improve transport connectivity between the two Black Sea neighbours. In April 2021, it was reported in Bulgaria that studies have started for the establishment of a Ro-Ro line between Burgas and Karasu. The distance between them is 150 nautical miles (to Bulgaria’s main port of Varna it is 180 nautical miles). Preliminary analysis made by Turkish transport officials show expected volume of cargo to reach 960 trailers per week (six visits per ship with 80 trailers in each direction) or almost 50,000 on an annual basis. Turkey is also interested in expanding the role of Karasu and better utilising its capacity. In February 2021, a Ro-Ro line was inaugurated between Karasu and Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, the country’s largest. A weekly rotation the service makes three stops in the port of Constanta, every two days. The Constanta Port is connected to the Danube river via the Danube-Black Sea Canal and allows cargo to reach Serbia, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Germany. The service is run by Sea Lines and the agent of the ship is MLH Shipping Agency. The route is serviced by a Ro-Ro vessel, with a capacity for up to 155 units and 12 drivers in Covid-19 safe single cabins. The distance between the ports is about 200 nautical miles. The service shortens the transit time for goods moving on the roads between Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe, being a safer and cheaper alternative to road transport. Sea Lines is a Karasu-based leading shipping operator of Ro-Ro and passenger services in the Black Sea. The Port of Karasu is planning an expansion to increase its cargo handling capacity. Managed by IC Ictas Sakarya Karasu Port Investment and Operating SA, the port has 1,108 meters of docking place and 11 meters of water depth in a total area of 250,000 m². It has an annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of general cargo and bulk cargo, 50,000 TEU containers and 110,000 units of Ro-Ro. It contributes around $2 million annually to the Turkish economy. Port Manager Gökçen Erdem said that the port will develop rail connections and cargo capacity, which will increase to 6 million tons in general cargo and bulk cargo. “We will have an annual capacity of 150,000 TEU in container loads and over 110,000 units including trucks, cars and other vehicles in Ro-Ro services,” he added. More Ports Europe news about the Port of Karasu and the Port of Burgas Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2022.

Bulgaria pushes for a Ro-Ro line with Turkey between the ports of Burgas and Karasu

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Bulgaria pushes for a Ro-Ro line with Turkey between the ports of Burgas and Karasu

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