site.btaChamber of Shipping Chair: Unfilled Vacancies Among Worst Problems Facing Industry

Unfilled vacancies are among the worst problems facing the shipping industry at this point, Bulgarian Chamber of Shipping (BCS) Chairman Alexander Kalchev told BTA. Marine engineers, ship mechanics, electricians and other plant and port professionals are particularly scarce.

Kalchev pointed out that companies already import staff from abroad, but reviving young Bulgarians' interest in the marine professions would be a better option. To this end, the Chamber has launched an initiative and has opened a bank account for raising funds to provide financial support to pupils and students studying marine professions.

The BCS head singled out the increase of the Bosporus and Dardanelles transit fees by Turkiye as a serious problem for the Bulgarian shipping industry. In his words, this has led to raising the cost of a ship's repair in Bulgaria by 7 to 10%, which may put off customers. "Every commodity we buy or export by sea is getting more expensive," Kalchev added. He recalled that under the Montreux Convention may not decide unilaterally on an increasing the taxes or charges for transit of the Straits.

According to Kalchev, the industry on the whole is not yet ready for the actions to reduce harmful emissions outlined by politicians. Various options are being explored, including use of nuclear technologies. Because of the war in Ukraine, using gas is no longer economically feasible. Kalchev said further that there already hybrid ships which run on batteries in port areas and use engines at sea.
 
Because of the more rigorous environmental standards, quite a few companies contemplate readopting the old practices of propulsion under sail, Kalchev said.