Captain Bogdan Bogdanov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Shipping: We want real decentralisation rather than mechanical relocation of structures

- Captain Bogdanov, how will the shipping business remember the year 2012?
- I suppose that anyone connected with the shipping industry would remember it as a good year, it was a difficult one. The crisis in shipping is deepening and affects the other sectors of the maritime industry as well - ports, dockyards and shipbuilding.

- Which are the main problems in the sector?
- One of the main problems is the lack of a national maritime strategy. This is a factor that does not depend on the crisis in any way. Another problem to be solved is decentralisation.

- A decision was made to relocate Executive Agency Maritime Administration to Varna. Isn’t this decentralisation?
- We hope and I have repeatedly stated that we do not want a mechanical relocation of the maritime administration. We have always stated that Executive Agency Maritime Administration needs a deeper reform. Its mechanical relocation to Varna or Burgas will have no positive effect and the problems will deepen. We want real and complete decentralisation which does not concern the agency alone. This problem concerns Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company as well.
We hope that these processes will take place, not only because it was a pre-election promise of the incumbent Government. During our most recent meeting with the Minister of Transport we got his firm assurance that decentralisation will be a fact. We hope his words will come true.

- Amendments to the Maritime Spaces Act are expected. Can these help solve the problems?
- On December 11, 2012, we discussed these amendments in Varna. The discussion attracted great interest and was held with the active participation of the maritime community. However, we came across a great paradox - the draft bill had been approved by the Council of Ministers without being discussed before that. This is contrary to their own rules. It did not become clear who was involved in the working group drafting these amendments. This is an extremely important and fundamental law which should regulate the maritime industry.
However, we will prepare our proposals for changes and will submit them for further discussion, hoping that the lawmakers will comply with them.

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