The first Bulgarian ferry line Varna - Caucasus will set off for their first trip to the Russian port within days, said the transport ministry. The new ferry boat Varna has already successfully completed the tests running outside water area of Varna Bay.

Varna is owned by maritime operators Varnaferry, in which equal shares are held by Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar) and Bulgarian River Shipping.

At the end of last year, Holding BDZ, BDZ Freight Services and Varnaferry signed an addendum to the main agreement for the operation of the ferry line Varna - Caucasus, in which Varnaferry was recognized as the operator of the ferry on the Bulgarian side.

After the launch of Varna, a significantly increase of the transport of propane butane in rail tankers from Russia to Bulgaria is expected.