SOFIA: The construction of a modern cross-border system for monitoring pollution in the waters of the Danube River caused by shipping is forthcoming, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works said here on Monday. The pilot initiative will be implemented by the Executive Agency Maritime Administration in partnership with the Romanian Maritime Administration under the approved strategic project DANRISS 2 – Enhanced Inspections on the Danube River through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Integration. The investment amounts to nearly EUR 4 million, provided under the Interreg VI-A Romania–Bulgaria Programme, which is co-managed by the Ministry.
The system will include innovative IT tools and sensors for collecting and analyzing data on river pollution, as well as procedures for joint monitoring activities and coordinated responses in the event of incidents.
The project also envisages upgrading the existing DANRISS system by transforming it into an intelligent and integrated platform that improves efficiency, transparency, and compliance with regulatory requirements related to inspections of the technical condition of vessels operating along the Danube, thereby avoiding duplication of activities by the two administrations. To this end, the Executive Agency Maritime Administration will deploy key hardware and infrastructure components and servers along the Bulgarian riverbank. New mobile devices and communication equipment connected to ship inspection activities will be provided. A mobile inspection unit will be established, equipped with specialized mobile printers, tablets, and an all-terrain vehicle. Artificial intelligence solutions will be introduced for advanced monitoring and analysis of river traffic on the Danube, enhancing safety and efficiency in river transport management. Joint training activities and the harmonization of inspection practices with the Romanian Maritime Administration are also planned.
The implementation of the project will ensure safe, efficient, and harmonized ship inspections along the Bulgarian–Romanian section of the Danube River, guaranteeing the fair application of navigation regulations. It will also support the implementation of Directive 2016/1629/EC establishing technical requirements for vessels operating on inland waterways, in accordance with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods. The implementation of project DANRISS 2 is expected to significantly improve the quality and consistency of ship inspections, promote safer navigation, reduce environmental impact, and ensure more equal conditions for participants in Danube river transport.
The Interreg VI-A Romania–Bulgaria Programme was approved by the European Commission on November 30, 2022. The programme’s total budget, including technical assistance funds, amounts to EUR 207,457,162, of which EUR 163,497,401 are provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The total amount available for projects is EUR 191,001,637.50, including EUR 152,801,310.00 from the ERDF, according to information published on the programme’s website. –Agencies
