Plans for a marina and passenger port on St. Kirik and Julita Island near Sozopol were made public at a briefing of the Council of Ministers by deputy prime minister and minister of transport and communications Grozdan Karadjov.
A government decision announced alongside the briefing allows part of the island to move from the Ministry of Culture to the State Enterprise Port Infrastructure for management.
The planned development includes a yacht marina, facilities for passenger and tourist vessels, upgrades to the quay, a passenger terminal and public access areas with space for mooring attraction vessels.
Sozopol currently has eight tourist vessels registered for seasonal passenger transport. The port also receives visiting yachts and continues to serve fishing activity.
According to the minister, Sozopol does not have a dedicated terminal for tourist vessels. Passenger and attraction vessels currently operate from the fishing harbour, where the quay measures between 80 and 100 metres.
Under the plan, tourist shipping would be handled at St. Kirik and Julita Island. The Ministry of Culture would retain full access to the island and continue work connected to the archaeological site.
The State Enterprise Port Infrastructure is also expected to support the activities of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol, a Category 2 institute for underwater cultural heritage under UNESCO.
The transfer of the property is expected to take place within one month. After this, preparation of a detailed development plan and a conceptual design will begin, with a public tender for construction expected to be announced by the summer.
