'As it Is'

01/01/1970

By the head of the Head of the Bulgarian Navy Hydrographic Service

The Bulgarian Hydrographic Service is a subdivision of the Bulgarian Navy and its main task is to provide information for safe navigation in Bulgarian territorial waters. The Hydrographic Service was founded in 1883, when the first hydro-meteorological surveys had been carried out. Naval charting dates back to 1887. But the really intensive and systemised surveys of seawaters for the requirements of Navy and commercial navigation began in the 1950s. During the 1980s the Hydrographic Service established contacts with the International Hydrographic Organization and such contacts became more regular and dynamic after Bulgaria was accepted as associated member of IHO in 1987.

Capt. Angel Demirev, Head of the Navy Hydrographic Service, Bulgaria

The Hydrographic Service has at its own disposal separate work groups of specialists in hydrography, cartography, marine sciences, aids to navigation and meteorology. Joint survey projects are carried out together with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and other national institutes. In 2000 a DGPS station for the needs of the Bulgarian Navy and navigation entered into operation. Hydrographic surveys are at present performed by a qualified team using modern GPS equipment and automated data processing. But the Hydrographic Service still publishes only paper charts. We are expecting a new GIS system to be introduced for the digital processing of data and production of ENCs to meet the requirements of navigation.

Marine surveys are made using the specialised hydrographic vessel of the Service or through co-operative activities with the National Institute of Oceanography. The territorial and internal waters of the Republic of Bulgaria are provided with a well-built system of stationary and floating aids of navigation. The functioning and state of these is continually surveyed and it is the task of our Service to summarise and broadcast the resulting information through the NAVTEX system and Notices to Mariners. The Hydrographic Service also provides hydro-meteorological information for the needs of the Bulgarian Navy.
Our factual and prognostic meteorological materials provide the possibility for drawing up short-term and long-term forecasts. At present we are facing a lot of difficulties in our work due to outdated measuring devices, equipment and techniques that are unable to satisfy the requirements of modern navigation. Aids to navigation should be included in an automated system to facilitate their control and functioning and the production of ENCs will be a real challenge to our specialists.

The Bulgarian Hydrographic Service has the ambition to meet the requirements of the dynamic development of hydrography, cartography and other marine sciences. We are looking for exchange of experience and co-operation with other Hydrographic Offices. We greatly hope that in the near future, when the Republic of Bulgaria becomes a full member of the International Hydrographic Organization, our Hydrographic Service will offer its contribution to world hydrographic and cartographic coverage for the safety of navigation and protection of the marine environment.

'As it Is'

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