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Bulgaria, Romania Linked by New Danube Ferry

A new ferry line connecting Bulgaria and Romania across the Danube River was put into operations on Friday, novinite.com informs.

The ferry boat complex connecting Bulgaria's town of Nikopol and Romania's Turnu Magurele was officially launched by the prime ministers of Bulgaria and Romania Boyko Borisov and Emil Boc. The distance between the two ferry stations is 800 m. It takes 8 minutes to cross the Danube River for the Romanian ferry boat.

The Bulgarian Port of Nikopol is first going to use an older ferry boat to be provided by Bulgarian River Shipping, Jsc, which will be making the distance in 15 minutes. Later, a brand new ferry boat is planned to be purchased.The Romanian ferry boat will be able to fit six trucks, and will be traveling at least twice daily.Crossing the Danube on the Nikopol - Turnu Magurele ferry will cost EUR 2 per person one-way, EUR 12 per car, and EUR 90-100 per truck.The investment in the construction of the Nikopol – Turnu Magurele complex is EUR 10 M.

The ferry line was carried out by implementing a joint Romanian-Bulgarian project financed with European Union funds. Romanian authorities undertook to pay EUR4.5 million, of which EUR3.3 million covered by Phare funds, and EUR1.2 million co-financing covered by the beneficiary, according to a press release issued by the Romanian Tourism and Regional Development Ministry.

The ferryboat 'EUROPA' crossing the Danube can carry 260 people, 34 light vehicles and up to nine heavy vehicles.

Romanian and Bulgarian authorities will continue construction works on the Calafat-Vidin Bridge and will seek financing sources to further focus on building two new bridges aimed at linking Calarasi to Silistra and Bechet to Oreahovo.

Bulgarian MEPs last year lobbied for the elimination of tolls charged for the use of the Giurgiu-Ruse Bridge, arguing the European Union rules and the principle of free movement are breached in this case. They stressed at that time they will bring the issue before the European Court of Justice unless the problem is solved.

Currently, there are three ferry lines between the two countries: Vidin -Calafat, Silistra-Calarasi and Oriahovo-Bechet.The Giurgiu-Ruse Bridge has been operational since 1954 and is the only bridge over the Danube River linking Romania to Bulgaria.

Sursa: http://www.actmedia.eu

Tags: ferry bulgarian romanian bulgaria romania danube car