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18 May marks exactly 120 years since the opening of the first modern Bulgarian port in Burgas. Four years prior to this event, in 1899, the first Bulgarian port lighthouse was lit - the White Lighthouse of Burgas.The decision to build the port of Burgas was taken by Decree № 7 of December 20, 1894 of Prince Ferdinand I, who personally docked the ship "Nadezhda" on May 18, 1903 and inaugurated the port.

"The sea station is a symbol of modern Burgas, of the development of the region, but it is also part of the personal memory of generations of Burgas residents! Today the port is the calling card of our city. Its role in the region's economy is very important", said the port's Executive Director Diyan Dimov at today's celebration.

- Even during the worst global crisis in recent decades, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the port in the coastal city did not stop working for a day and we are now celebrating the anniversary with nearly 15% growth in cargo turnover and good financial results," he told Daniela Kostadinova, correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio in Burgas.

Today's anniversary is also marked with the validation of a topical postage stamp "120 years of Burgas port". The author of the commemorative philatelic issue is the rector of the National Academy of Arts prof. Prof. Georgi Yankov. Another way to commemorate the event will be the official opening of two jubilee exhibitions of photographs and paintings of the port of Burgas.

"The exhibition at the Atelier Gallery includes many valuable paintings by famous Bulgarian artists who have reflected in their work the port as a symbol of hope and testimony to the development of the Bulgarian economy," says Diyan Dimov.– The paintings in the collection are mostly by artists associated with Burgas - who were either born, lived or worked there. Among the latest artistic acquisitions of the port, which will also be exhibited, are paintings by the contemporary American-French impressionist Gene Duaiv and Associate Professor Dimo Kolibarov, director of the branch of the National Academy of Arts in Burgas.

The second exhibition is outdoor and is arranged on the Breakwater. It is dedicated to the construction, development and modernisation of the port of Burgas. The 32 panels show archive photographs capturing moments from the Prince Ferdinand's decree on its construction, its opening, the construction of the new terminals to its most attractive part - the Public Access Area.

"This year is emblematic for our seaport. In just a few months' time (10-13 October 2023), the port of Burgas will host the 63rd General Assembly of MedCruise, the Mediterranean Cruise Ports Association, thus becoming a world cruise capital, albeit for a few days. This is a sign of the importance of our port on the world map of the maritime industry. I would very much like to show that the port of Burgas is an interesting and attractive destination for the tourism industry. Its development over the last 120 years shows that we are moving in the right direction", says Diyan Dimov.

Text: Vessela Krasteva

Photos: BTA, Facebook/nhaburgas, port-burgas.bg

English version: Elizabeth Radkova