Relu Cotoban, local correspondent for the Bridge of Friendship
Vladimir Mitev
On Wednesday 12.02.2025, in the presence of H.E. the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bucharest, the Mayor of Tutrakan Municipality, Dr. Dimitar Stefanov, the President and Vice-President of the Tutrakan Municipal Council and the Mayor of Oltenița Municipality, Mihaița Beștea, signed documents of intent for the completion of the ferry docks for a Tutrakan-Oltenița ferry and for the provision of infrastructure at the expense of the municipalities. These documents will be sent to the Commission for Cross-Border Cooperation. And on the basis of these documents, the transport companies are expected to send letters to the respective ministers in Romania and Bulgaria, asking for permission to open a ferry line. It remains to be seen whether, in the current tense political context, especially in Romania, but also in Bulgaria, the initiative will be approved without any problems.
In this context, the officials present received a plaque from the Oltenița Municipality.
It is expected that this ferry crossing of the Danube between Oltenița and Tutrakan will be operational by the end of May or June at the latest. Initially, it will carry passengers, tourists and cars up to 12 tonnes.
Mr. Radko Vlaykov presented this Danube crossing, which will serve as an alternative to the Friendship Bridge at Ruse-Giurgiu, especially during the period of bridge repairs. This ferry line will act almost like a new bridge across the Danube. The economic benefits will be long lasting and very significant for both Danube communities of Tutrakan and Oltenița, reducing unemployment, increasing trade, benefiting tourists, fishermen, small farmers and many others. The Ambassador congratulated the two mayors for their commitment and excellent cooperation, but he also underlined the special commitment and perseverance of Mayor Dimitar Stefanov.
The speeches underlined both the purely technical data provided by the amateur ferryman, Mr Gheorghe Antistescu from Brăila, and the many opportunities that will open up between the two neighbouring and friendly peoples and between the two Danube communities. This new crossing of the Danube will be of benefit to all, it will bring advantages, it will connect the markets of Bucharest and not only with the Bulgarian producers, but also vice versa.
The Mayor of Oltenița, Mihaita Bestea, quoted Relu Cotoban, a friend of Bulgaria, who said: “The Danube does not divide us, it unites us”. We wish this laudable Romanian-Bulgarian initiative every success.
H.E. Radko Vlaykov: Today is a memorable day for the connectivity between Bulgaria and Romania
A transcript of a BTA video, shot after the event
This is what ambassador Vlaykov said after the event before media in a video, recorded by BTA:
“An extremely important new site appears on the map of connectivity between Bulgaria and Romania on the Danube. The distance between Danube Bridge 1 at Ruse and the ferries at Silistra-Călărași is over 100 km. This is the longest point on the Danube at the Bulgarian-Romanian border where there is no connectivity. The opening of a ferry line at Tutrakan-Olteniţa, halfway along this distance, is a very important element of connectivity.
This project has existed for 17-18-20 years, but it can be realised now thanks to several factors. One of the most important ones is the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen, removing the need for border controls. This has created an opportunity for action and for the extraordinary activity of the mayors of Tutrakan, Dr Dimitar Stefanov, and Oltenița, Mihaiță Beștea. We managed, within literally a few weeks, to agree on all the steps to be taken.
The benefit will be more than obvious. A large part of the farmers and fishermen in Tutrakan and the region export their production, which goes directly to Bucharest. A part of the production from Oltenița goes to Bulgaria. The direct link is good for business. It will also be extremely important for tourism.
The Tutrakan-Olteniţa ferry is also important in the context of the ongoing renovation of the Danube bridge in the Ruse-Giurgiu area. This ferry will be a kind of alternative in the busiest summer days, when there is a significant traffic of Romanian and Bulgarian tourists.
Therefore, the benefits are more than obvious for businesses, for people. The most important thing to note is that this ferry is being launched without the need for any funding from the budgets of both Bulgaria and Romania. So the benefit is more than obvious.
Where ferry nests are being built, there is very little work needed on the Bulgarian and Romanian sides. The road to the ferry nests needs to be fixed. But it is several hundred metres long. The cost of it will be borne by the municipalities of Tutrakan and Oltenița. I stress that neither the Bulgarian state in Tutrakan nor the Romanian state in Oltenița have any investment commitments.”
Photo: Mayor of Oltenița Mihaiță Beștea speaks, at the table in the center is his H.E. ambassador Vlaykov, next to him is the mayor of Tutrakan Dimitar Stefanov, Emil Tonchev translates in the right-most corner (source: Relu Cotoban)
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