Sector Ports & Harbors

Project Type Bulk Port

Project Title Port of Bourgas Expansion Project

Location Bourgas, Republic of Bulgaria, Europe – Black Sea

Client Port of Bourgas / JBIC

Project Period 1999 – 2005

Problems addressed by the Project

The Port of Bourgas is the largest seaport in Bulgaria and in 2003 celebrated its 100-year anniversary as a modern port. The Government of Bulgaria realized 20 years ago that the port needed expanding, but could not find adequate funding sources. In 1995, a master plan for the port tailored to the new economic and political realities in Eastern Europe was approved. It projected four new terminals (liquid, bulk cargo, Ro-Ro and Ferry, and container) as an extension to the present Port West, along with a new breakwater for protection and a new access channel. In the project formation phase, OC Global helped the client identify the priority components of the master plan for the first stage of execution. The Government of Bulgaria signed a loan agreement with JICA in 1998.

Features of the Port of Bourgas expansion included: a new 15.5 m deep bulk cargo terminal with heavy cargo handling equipment, a new breakwater and a new access channel for 128,000 DWT bulk vessels. The Project was divided into two packages: (1) Civil and Dredging Works and (2) Cargo Handling Equipment. The Project has conferred the Port of Bourgas with the capacity to handle 6.5 million tons annually of bulk cargo, mainly iron ore, coal and coke. The new port will give a competitive edge to local industry, solve environmental problems by shifting the dusty bulk cargo away from residential quarters of the city, and secure space for the future construction of other terminals.

Service Provided

OC Global carried out preliminary assessment of the Project scope and feasibility. During the design stage we carried out site and geotechnical investigations and topographic, hydrographic, EIA, and coastal surveys and performed the preliminary and detailed design. An important aspect of the services was the ship maneuvering computer simulation study and environmental impact prediction with computer modeling of turbidity plumes during dredged material disposal and computer modeling of coastal changes because of dredging sand from the sea bottom for reclamation. The computer simulations reduced the project cost by allowing a narrower access channel and proving that there would be no adverse environmental impact on the tourist industry around the construction site. We introduced 2D and 3D computer simulation for verification with multiple computer models and obtained consistent reliable results.

OC Global also prepared tender documents and assisted with tendering, construction supervision and management services.

Actual Project Works

Package No. 1 Civil and Dredging Works Civil works – Breakwater: 1,240 m, Terminal 2A: 26 ha reclaimed land, Quaywall: 790 m with 3 berths and

depths: 11.5 m and 15.5 m, Stone dikes: 1,169 m, Storage Yards: 11.8 ha: Roads: 12 ha, Railroads: 7,200 m, Buildings and Utilities works Dredging works – Access channel: length: 6,623 m, depth: 15.5 m, volume: 5.5 million m3, Basin: depth:

11.5 m and 15.5 m, volume 2.5 million m3

Package No. 2 Cargo Handling Equipment New 2 units Grab Bucket Ship Unloaders: 1,200 t/hr, Belt conveyor system for coal and coke, Stacker:

1,320 t/hr, Stacker/Reclaimer: 1,320/660 t/hr, Reclaimer: 660 t/hr, Wagon Loading System: 2x600 t/hr, 8 front loaders, and relocation of 5 cranes with 16-t lifting capacity

Challenges and Response to Local Conditions

When this project was implemented, Bulgaria was in transition from a planned to a market economy and from communism to democracy. OC Global responded to this fluid environment. In order to utilize local experienced manufacturers and reduce costs, we proposed design solutions for the quaywall with caissons that could be manufactured in the nearby shipyard and launched with its unique facilities. New environmental restrictions also imposed severe financial strain on the Project, and OC Global responded to the Client’s request to reduce the Project scope, but managed to maintain the aim, integrity and operational benefit of the Project and to redesign the changed parts without interfering with the work of the Contractor. Careful study of existing conditions led to change the plan for reclamation from using sand from the sea bottom to utilize quarry-run material without degrading the quality of the works.

Boring Works

Removal of Obstacles

Caisson Works

Caisson Installation