1. THE BULGARIAN MERCHANT FLEET 2. SHIPMENT OF SOVIET WAR MATERIAL TO BULGARIA 3. BULGARIAN COSTAL FORTIFICATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002200170042-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2006
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: September 4, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002200170042-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL ? U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT 1. The Bulgarian Mer pant Fleet
2. Shipment of Soviet War Materiel
to Bulgaria
3. Bulgarian Coastal Fortifications
F
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
The Bulgarian Merchant Fleet
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4 September 1953
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1. It is very difficult to join than Bulgarian Merchant Marine. First preference is
given to mean who have served In the Bulgarian Navy. The recommendation given to
the candidate by the. government or Parr authorities Carries ' much weight. These
measures are taken to assure the security of"all members of the Merchant Marine.
2. The pay of men in the Merchant Marine varies from 450 to 1,000 lava a mouth. Only
ship captains receive 1,0OO lava a month. Etch sailor must assign'part of his base
pay to his family. When on voyages outside Bulgarian territorial'watersp each sea-
man regularly receives 12 lama a day for food and an extra 5 to 10 lava per day,
which is paid in the currenq of the foreign country in which the ship is docked.
3. The Bulgarian merchant fleet has the following shipsa BULGARIA (about 7,.WOO toms),
RUM" about 5,400 tons NIKCLA V SAf OV (about 3,500 tons 11 ISat0 SKI
(about 200 tons), 'R SON= (about 750 tons), BLAGOY X 5ABOV (about 750
toss), VII MAY (about, 300 tons),DOBRUDZHA (250 tons), RICA (20Q tons), ELLIAURA
(200 tons), and EMONA (200 tons). The first nine of these are freighters and the
last two are passenger carriers only.
4. The freighters make voyages to the Soviet Union, Albania, Turkey Greece, Italy,
Israel (Haifa), Malta Egypt (Alexandria), and French Morocco. On occasions, one
of "the larger ships will an at Western European, Soandanna7ian, or British ports.
Most of the voyages are made between Bulgarian ports and the port of Odessa in the
USSR. Imports to the Soviet Union include mostly minerals, grain, fruit, and tomato
sauce. Factory machinery is imported from the USSR.
5?
Sips sailing from Bulgaria to Albania carry transshipped cargoes of grains pi
iron, light machinery; and Czech trucks. Often the ships carry machinery direr
from the Soviet Union to Albania. On their riturfm trips from Albania Bulgarian
ships carry asphalt and copper ore. Sometimes this cargo is carried directly f
Albania to the USSR.
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Shipment of Soviet War Materiel to Bulgaria
b. Bulgarian merchant seamen believe that much war materiel is being sent fr,m the
Soviet Union to Bulgaria, but state that none is carried on Weir *arch 'l ships.
Instead,, the materiel is transported on Soviet and Bulgarian Navy vessels which
are equipped for this purpose.
7. Small Soviet Navy vessels often visit the bases at Varna and Burgas. Bulgariau.
Navy ships also visit Soviet naval basese particularly Sevastopol. Specialized
personnel of the Bulgarian Navy are sent to the USSR for special training in Naval
warfare.
Bulgarian Coastal Fortifications
8. The Black Sea coast of Bulgaria is well fortified. From the port of Varna in
the-direction of Monastero (sic9 probably Monastir Sveti Konetantin to. the north
.f Vary.), the coast' is very high, sinbe- it is impossible. to land in this area.
no fortifications have been built.
9. The coastline from Varna south to the Kamchiya River is low and many fortifications
have been constructed in this area. Along this stretch of coast., coastal artillery
emplacements of reinforced ooncrete have been built.
10. The military base at Varna has been fortified and the canal leading from Varna
to Lake Devnya has been widened. It is now navigable for steamships of small
tonnage.
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Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002200170042-3