Danube Integrated System for MARking

As an environmentally-friendly and safe transport mode, inland waterway transport (IWT) is an important enabler for economic growth and competitiveness in the Danube Region. The Danube is an international waterway. For coordinated basic infrastructure quality, the transnational cooperation of national waterway authorities is crucial. The common Romanian – Bulgarian sector of the Danube is an important section of the Danube and also, an important sector of the TEN-T Rhine-Danube Core Network Corridor. Transnational harmonised waterway infrastructure for an entire TEN-T transport corridor is an important prerequisite for public authorities in order to be capable of satisfying user needs of the commercial IWT sector. For instance, data about fairway conditions from both Danube countries, Romania and Republic of Bulgaria will help vessel operators to optimise their voyage and transport planning, which is in most cases international. The objective of the project is to enhance and maintain a sustainable and climate resilient transportation network by further developing effective waterway infrastructure. In addition to consolidating common standards and tools, the project’s results and outputs include user oriented information services. These enable rapid information transfer on the quality of the waterway’s infrastructure. The project will consolidate the quality of waterway infrastructure and waterway maintenance, resulting in a higher utilization of waterway transport in the region. Through collaboration, innovative technologies, and careful planning, the project aims to create a safer and more reliable waterway for all users (trade, transportation, and tourism companies), ensuring the preservation of this invaluable European resource. Planned Approach: 1. Systematic Assessment: The project will start with a comprehensive assessment of the current marking system and its limitations. This assessment will have the scope to identify the optimal solution for different component of the integrated marking system. 2. Technology Upgrade: Based on the assessment, the project will introduce advanced technologies for the marking system, including solar-powered lights and GPS-based positioning. These upgrades will enhance accuracy and reliability while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions; 3. Implementation of the pilot actions: Based on the results of the installation methods analysis, using the new technologies, taking into account the local hydrological conditions, will be installed the marking necessary infrastructure in order to develop the new integrated system. After the new integrated communication system installation, will be done the testing activities, in order to verify the interconnection capacity and monitoring the system parameter’s. 4. Monitoring and Evaluation of the pilot actions: The project will include a robust monitoring and evaluation process to measure the effectiveness of the upgraded and integrated marking system. Continuous feedback will be used to make any necessary adjustments and improvements. The proposed project for improving the marking system on the Danube River introduces several new and original elements that set it apart from traditional approaches. The project's novelty lies in its adoption of sustainable technologies, GPS-based positioning, regional collaboration for the marking activity, and commitment to environmental preservation. These elements make the project unique and promising, addressing navigational challenges on the Danube River in an innovative and inclusive manner. Moreover, DISMAR project, efficiently capitalises on previous project results (i.e. SEE project NEWADA duo, TEN-T Project IRIS Europe 3, CEF Project FAIRway Danube and Romanian Operational Programme – POIM project) to build on existing knowledge and to deploy results for consolidate the quality of waterway infrastructure.

On 10.04.2024, an official event was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration in Bucharest, Romania for signing the subsidy contract and thus, the project activities started on 11 April 2024. During the initial reporting period, at the request of AFDJ, the Project Leader, the two waterway administrations established the Project Management Team (PMT) to ensure the effective management and implementation of the entire project. Key roles within the project—specifically, the project manager, financial manager, and communication officer—were identified and mutually agreed upon by the two partners. Additionally, leaders for each work package (WP) and activity were appointed. All these designated individuals are members of the Project Management Team. Within this first reporting period, three PMT meetings were organized. On June 18, 2024, a kick-off meeting was organised by IAPPD, the activity Lider, which included representatives from the ministries of regional development and transport from both Romania and Bulgaria, CBC RoBg representatives, municipal representatives from Bulgaria, and waterway users. To celebrate the event, the first tree was planted at the Romanian administration's headquarters. In Bulgaria, a press release was distributed among the national and regional media, followed by a media monitoring. A project poster was printed and placed in the Bulgarian administration`s premises. In WP1, the development of the Integrated Marking Plan and the Integrated Communication Plan has commenced. Once these plans are completed, the focus will be shifted to developing the Testing and Evaluation Plan for the Quality of the Integrated Marking System. In WP2, in order to facilitate the procurement processes within the project, the partners developed and agreed upon two procurement agreements: the „Agreement on Joint Procurement for the Supply of technical vessels for coastal signaling” and the „Agreement on joint procurement for the supply of floating signals equipped with lamp and AIS communication system for the Integrated Marking System of the Danube fairway”. Both agreements were signed by the legal representatives of the two administrations during the kick-off meeting. The procurement procedure for the coastal signals to be installed on the Romanian side of the Danube has been launched. Each partner will carry out the procurement of these coastal signals independently. Additionally, the procedure for acquiring IT platform development services has also been initiated. In parallel with the launch of the coastal signals procurement procedure, activities to obtain the necessary approvals and permits from environmental authorities have continued. During the recently concluded reporting period, the project partners continued the implementation of the project activities with special attention to coordination, technical implementation, and communication. From the project management point of view, after the completion of the 1st reporting period, AFDJ and EAEMDR prepared the PR1. After the validation of the partner reports AFDJ, as LP, prepared the Project Report, which was submitted in 14.10.2024. The amount requested in the first project report was EUR 8,012.58, an amount reported by the EAEDMR partner. Following the verification the validated amount was EUR 8,012.58. On 26.09.2024, a request for an advance payment was submitted by EAEMDR to the MRDPW and the respective amount (1,368,142.76 BGN) was received. On 15.10.2024, the project partners were invited to participate in the 3rd meeting of the MC for Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria, organized in Bucharest. In 01.10.2024, a meeting was held with BULRIS – State Enterprise Port Infrastructure, Ruse, at which joint activities and cooperation on expanding the project were discussed. The proposals for supplementing the activities of the DISMAR project and also the idea for a new project were presented at the meeting. On 16.10.2024, a PM meeting was organized, in which the implementation status of the project, the next steps in terms of procurement within the project were discussed. Also, the Integrated marking plan was approved. Following the issuance of Decision no. 34/15.10.2024 of the Interreg VI-A Romania-Bulgaria MC, which approved the reallocation of the funds for upgrading the DISMAR Project, the PMT participated together with the representatives of the MA and the JS at the meeting organized on 07.11.2024, in Bucharest In this context, AFDJ, as LP, started the elaboration of the Notification for the amendment of the Subsidy contract. In 18.11.2024, the online visit related to verification of PR no. 1 was organized. During the meeting were discussed the achievements of the first reporting period and were provided the necessary guidelines. Regarding WP 1, the project partners worked on the elaboration of the strategic plans. The integrated marking plan has been finalized and will be updated, if necessary, during the pilot actions, which will be carried out within WP 3. The development of the Testing and Evaluation Plan for Integrated Marking System Quality has begun. This deliverable will be finalized in the next reporting period. As regards WP 2, the following progress is made in the 2nd reporting period: - The procurement procedure for the technical coastal marking vessels was launched, but following the Decision of the MC to supplement the value of the project, this procurement was cancelled. The technical specifications have been updated and the launch of the procurement is estimated as soon as the Amendment of the Subsidy contract will be signed; - The technical documentation has been finalized for the floating signalization procurement, and procurement is also planned to be launched immediately after signing the Amendment of the Subsidy contract; - The procedure for coastal marking was concluded for AFDJ partner. On 28.10.2024, was signed the contract no. 122 with LEMINGS SRL, for the acquisition of 980 coastal signals (1,100 m2), respectively 452-kilometer indicators and 528 coastal signals. EAEMDR prepared the documentation for the procurement procedure. The public procurement includes the production of: kilometer signs - 472 pieces, coastal signs - 528 pieces, coastal lanterns - 20 pieces. In 23.10.2024 the documentation was sent to the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for preliminary control. The public procurement was published in 19.11.2024. The offers were opened on 10.12.2024 and a Commission has been appointed for ranking of the offers. - Regarding the IT platform on 28.10.2024, the contract no.123, with Knowledge Design Unit SRL, was signed, in the amount of 970,000 lei without VAT. During the reporting period, more technical meetings and discussions were held between project partners. Regarding the communication activity, information regarding the project was published on the AFDJ website. https://www.afdj.ro/ro/DISMAR. The Project Communication Plan was developed by EAEMDR and approved by the Lead Partner. In 21.11.2024, trees were planted near the EAEMDR headquarters. Afterwards a press release in this regard was prepared and disseminated. On 31.10.2024, AFDJ representatives participated in the Annual Conference of the Interreg VI-A RO-BG Programme, organized in Piatra Olt, Romania, during which project was presented. The project was presented at the Danube Information Services Conference (DISC 2024), organized in Varna, Bulgaria, between 03.12.2024 – 04.12.2024. In order to ensure the promotional materials within the procurement procedure for the supply of promotional materials was started, through the Necessity Report no. 40324/ 27.11.2024.