Centre for Rescue at Sea Unveiled in Varna

Dimitrina Solakova, Yoana Vodenicharova

Sea Survival Centre in Varna, on the Black Sea (BTA Photo)

Varna, on the Black Sea,

22.01.2024 15:22

(BTA)

A Sea Survival Centre (Deep Water Pool) was unveiled at the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy here on Monday. The main functions of the facility is to carry out a wide range of sea rescue operations, as well as to ensure the training of divers from the Navy and the special operations forces of the Bulgarian Army. The rescue at sea centre is the most modern of its kind in the Black Sea Region.

The area of the pool is 12 by 25 metres and the depth varies from 3 to 5 metres. The facility is equipped with an imitation system for generating waves, artificial smoke and other specialized systems, supporting the training for year-round practice of the specialists of the Navy and Air Force formations, conducting courses and training in light diving.

Attending Monday's opening were Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Minister of Defence Todor Tagarev, the Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Evtimov, the Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov, MPs, officers, representatives of local authorities, and the maritime community.

The Defence Minister said that the Centre is impressive. Ways to support other military schools in the country should be considered, because building defence capabilities also includes improving military education, he noted. “We have not developed a special programme on this issue. It depends on how proactive they are,” the Minister added.

Flotilla Admiral Boyan Mednikarov, head of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, said the Academy aims to turn the Sea Survival Centre into a unique centre for the preparation of Armed Forces staff as well as for NATO partners to practice tasks at sea. To build the Centre, the Academy has drawn on the experience of Romania, Turkiye, and Ukraine, he said. Considerable funding has been provided by the Defence Ministry for the project's implementation.

/DS/