carry out all hydrological measurements and the set of continuous round-the-clock weather and meteorological observations along the Danube through the Novo Selo, Lom, Oryahovo, Svishtov, Rousse and Silistra stations;
carry out all measurements for the low and high navigable water level;
carry out measurements to determine the discharge rate at the fairway, critical sections and the areas in the vicinity of hydro-technical facilities;
carry out measurements to determine river sediment discharge at the main gauging stations;
collect samples to determine water turbidity;
keep track of ice phenomena in the Bulgarian section of the Danube;
perform survey work in the area of hydrology of the Danube;
draft methodology for short-term hydrological forecasts;
perform daily, monthly, annual and multi-annual processing of meteorological data acquired through the agency’s stations;
presents daily information bulletins to companies and organizations interested;
processes and distributes hydrological data in the international exchange;
generates an electronic database of hydrological and hydrometric data;
presents interested parties with the required hydrological and hydrometeorological information;
coordinates construction projects along the Danube from hydrological point of view;
issues daily and weekly forecasts on the river water level, as well as 3-day forecasts on ice phenomena;
issues a daily “Hydrometeorological and navigation bulletin for the Danube”;
gives storm warnings to navigating vessels, ship owners, ports and Civil Protection structures;
prepares the necessary positions within the competence of the Danube commission, Joint Bulgarian-Romanian commission, the work group for inland navigation of UNECE and other interested international organizations, related to navigation;
carries out the whole complex of hydrographic and morphological studies in the Bulgarian-Romanian section of the Danube from km 845.650 to km 374.100;
takes measurements in critical for navigation sectors, port approaches, winter shelters (estuaries), temporary winter shelters and secondary arms;
takes special measurements to determine the thalweg of the Danube, in direct relation to national ownership of islands and state border;
organizes and takes measurements for hydrographic, pilot and navigation charts of the Danube;
prepares and draws up cadastral, topographic, navigation and pilot charts of the Danube river or sections thereof;
draws up situational hydrographic plans, hydro-graphs, longitudinal and transverse profiles of the Danube in relation to planning and construction along it for the needs of river transport and at request by natural or legal persons;
maintains the polygon and vertical geodetic network along the riverside and develops similar lower-class networks;
surveys the longitudinal profile to determine the gradient of the Danube;
performs hydromorphological measurements and surveys fulfilling the recommendations of the Danube Commission, the decisions of the Joint Bulgarian-Romanian commission on fairway maintenance and improvement, the mixed technical commission for control of the technical state of the Danube bridge between Rousse and Giurgiu and the hydraulic regime the vicinity, the joint Bulgarian-Romanian technical commission for the state of the Danube bridge between Vidin and Calafat and the water regime of the river in the area of the facility, and the work group on inland waterway transport of UNECE;
examine the effect of existing hydro-technical facilities and analyse their impact on the regime of the Danube;
carry out research activities in hydrography and hydro morphology of the Danube in view of using it for navigation;
keeps track of and analyses morphological changes in the Bulgarian bank and pertaining islands and the formation of new ones;
draft a bottleneck catalogue, study and analyse the development of navigation bottlenecks as a function of weather in order to optimize navigation conditions;
develop and coordinate trenching projects and engineering measures in the riverbed and its banks in order to improve navigation conditions along Danube fairway, winter shelters and the locations where on-time intervention is necessary;
ensure effective information exchange with related Bulgarian and foreign organizations;
carry out investment activities and supervision during construction works to meet the needs of the agency, as well as major and current repairs of the building stock;
coordinate the removal of inert materials from the riverbed with the Waterway Maintenance Directorate in order to avoid adverse influence on navigation, hydro-technical facilities, bank and island erosion;
prepare, draw up and distribute electronic navigation charts of international standard of the Bulgarian section of the Danube;
carry out relevant surveys and measurements in relation to issuing a water body utilization permit for sediment abstraction from the Danube;
organize, conduct and control the operation of the hydro-meteorological stations in Novo Selo, Lom, Oryahovo, Svishtov, Rousse and Silistra.
performs the whole range of works to maintain the fairway along the Danube, port approach, winter shelters and temporary winter shelters, in accordance with recommendations of the Danube Commission and decisions of the mixed Bulgarian-Romanian commission on fairway maintenance and improvement;
ensure reliable and continuous navigation conditions;
carry out the necessary dredging works along the fairway, winter shelters and temporary winter shelters, in order to achieve the depth and width parameters recommended by the Danube Commission;
trawl and clear the fairway, navigation canals, port approaches, winter shelters and temporary winter shelters by organizing the respective diving and crane works;
carry out tug-push boat activities and emergency rescue operations;
coordinates with the Hydrology and Hydro-meteorology Directorate on inert material quarries along the Danube in regard to navigation safety;
participates in the drafting of projects and positions during dredging works;
compiles information on fairway conditions and changes in the navigation situation, and issues weekly bulletins;
ensures constant readiness of own vessels, floating technical facilities and navigation condition markers;
controls the condition and proper use of own vessels and floating technical facilities;
plans, organizes and exercises control during current, major and emergency repair works on vessels and floating technical facilities;
prepares positions within the competence of the Danube commission, mixed Bulgarian-Romanian commissions, the work group for inland navigation of UNECE and other interested international organizations, related to navigation;
plans and organizes the preparation of vessels and floating technical facilities for check-ups with the corresponding competent authorities;
is responsible for the working order of the electric equipment on lighted navigation aids;
makes aids to navigation and maintains and repairs floating and riverside markers;
participates using available technical means in the organization of emergency plans on the localization and collection of oil spills along the fairway, and receiving of oil-contaminated water from transit vessels in the Bulgarian-Romanian section of the Danube;
provides thorough information on navigation conditions as needed by Bulgarian river information services for the Bulgarian section of the Danube;
observes the location and technical condition of markers in the area defined by the common Bulgarian-Romanian commission on fairway improvement and maintenance, using an electronic surveillance system;
draws up and distributes schemes of the fairway in bottleneck areas and of temporary winter shelters in the section from km 610.000 to km 374.100 of the Danube.
European Programs, Projects and Public Relations Directorate
FUNCTIONS
undertakes activities on the development, execution, monitoring and accountability of projects financed by the European Union and other international financial institutions and programmes related to the development and maintenance of the waterway in the Bulgarian section of the Danube, in the capacity of beneficiary or partner;
organizes and coordinates the agency’s participation in the activities of international organizations, processes and mixed commissions on cooperation in the area of maintaining inland waterways;
coordinates the establishment of a position for agency participation in the activities of specialized international organizations and harmonizes it with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
develops programmes for the development of international co-operation, leads international correspondence and supports the Executive Director in the organization, holding and participation in international meetings;
participates in the activity of work groups, councils, commissions, committees, etc. on the national, regional or local level;
ensures the carrying out of the agency’s information policy by organizing the drawing up and distribution of information materials related to the agency’s activities;
plans and organizes the relations of the Executive Director with the mass media, organizes press-conferences, official and work meetings, seminars, discussions and round tables regarding the agency’s activities;
is responsible for the maintenance and update of information published on the agency’s website;
provides interpretation services during international meetings and functions, as well as translation services.