Bulgaria's Varna West Terminal Launches €5.3 Million Tender for Mobile Harbor Crane

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 1, Bulgarian state-owned port operator Port of Varna EAD launched an international tender for a new mobile harbor crane at Varna West Terminal, with a contract value estimated at approximately €5.3 million (about US$5.9 million), as part of its investment to expand cargo handling capacity. The bid deadline is November 16, 2026.

The tender documents set out the complete technical specifications for the crane, targeting general-purpose operations for containers and bulk cargo. The crane must have a minimum lifting capacity of 100 tonnes and a jib length of at least 50 meters, and must be capable of handling both containers and bulk cargo. In terms of operating parameters, it is required to lift a 30-tonne container at a radius of 45 meters, with a lifting height of at least 40 meters. The power solution is primarily shore power supply, with a diesel engine as backup, and remote control capability is mandatory.

This procurement is part of a €7.76 million investment plan rather than an isolated equipment replacement. In addition to the mobile crane, the same plan also includes two electric terminal tractors and the rehabilitation of railway infrastructure at Berths 16 and 17. The tender requires suppliers to complete equipment delivery within a maximum of 14 months after contract signing. The plan falls under Bulgaria's "Transport Connectivity Programme 2021–2027," which has a total budget of nearly €17.6 million for the port sector.

The 100-tonne-class crane in this tender supplements the medium lifting capacity range, forming a tonnage pairing with the existing 144-tonne-class main equipment rather than replacing existing high-tonnage equipment.