The Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” has launched intensified inspections along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, targeting all water attractions during Summer 2026. The aim is to limit the risk of accidents and provide a safe environment for citizens and visitors to the country. The inspections are carried out jointly with representatives of the Directorate General “Civil Aviation Administration” and Directorate General “Border Police”.
The checks cover compliance with safety requirements: Technical condition and registration of watercraft, the operators’ licenses, availability of rescue equipment, as well as proper marking and observance of the traffic corridors and distances from the beaches.
Particular emphasis is placed on the condition of the equipment used for water attractions – ropes, carabiners, traction systems, fasteners, lifejackets and parachutes, and visual inspections to monitor for damage or wear. The focus of the inspectors is on attractions such as parasailing, towing of inflatable equipment, water skiing, jet skis and other high-risk entertainment. During the inspections of 11 water bases and 2 parasailing vessels in the area between Burgas and Sunny Beach, no violations were found.
At the moment, applications for 62 water bases have been submitted and approved in Burgas, and 12 of them also offer parasailing. A total of 16 applications have been submitted in Varna, of which so far 4 have been approved for water bases and one for parasailing.
Safety at water attractions is a shared responsibility between operators and users of these services. The Ministry of Transport and Communications urges citizens and tourists to show personal responsibility, to undergo mandatory instruction before using the facilities and to pay attention to the provided protective equipment. The monitoring will continue through unannounced inspections of the water bases, and information on the detected violations and the measures taken will be provided periodically throughout the summer season.
