1. MARITIME ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN BULGARIA
NIKOLA VAPTSAROV
NAVAL ACADEMY
MARITIME ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN BULGARIA

2. To develop highly qualified leaders
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To develop highly qualified leaders
for the Bulgarian Navy and the maritime industry; to prepare them for the challenges of the transforming Navy and the rapidly changing sector of the global maritime economy

3. Technical training and enhancing the qualification of NCOs and sailors
MAIN OBJECTIVES
Higher military and civilian education for the future naval officers
Doctor’s, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees for the merchant marine
Postgraduate training for military and maritime personnel
Research and Development for the Bulgarian Navy and the maritime industry
OTHER OBJECTIVES
Technical training and enhancing the qualification of NCOs and sailors

4. HIGHLIGHTS IN HISTORY 1881 First technical school in Bulgaria
Beginning of line officer / deck officer education and training
Qualification courses for senior naval officers
First diplomas of higher education
First foreign cadets funded by their respective MoDs
First Master’s Degree Engineering program
International recognition of the Academy’s diploma by IMO
Maritime university approved under the STCW 78/95 Convention
First program accreditation of core specialties
Cofounder of the International Association of Maritime Universities
First ISO Quality Certificate
First Institutional Accreditation

5. Founders of the Academy Alumni Association of the Naval Academy
TRADITIONS
Patron of the Academy
Institution for training in the maritime way of life
Integrated training of officers both for the Navy and the Merchant Marine in a military environment
Theory and practice in close integration
National Center of maritime education and science
Strict adherence to the international standards for training of maritime personnel
Lieutenant
Kuzminski
Admiral
Rozhdestvenski
1917
Nikola Vaptsarov
1931
Major-general
Konstantin Kirkov
Alumni Association of the Naval Academy
1997

6. Superintendent - Rector Postgraduate Training Department
ACADEMIC STRUCTURE
General Assembly
Academic Council
Superintendent - Rector
Engineering Faculty
Postgraduate Training Department
Navigation Faculty
General Assembly
General Assembly
Faculty Council
Faculty Council
General Assembly
Dean
Dean
Dept. Council
Director
6 chairs
6 chairs
Training Centers
Boards of chairs
Boards of chairs
Naval Training Center
NCO College

7. ACADEMIC SUPPORT UNITS
Naval Research Center
English Resource Center
CISCO Academy
Ship Brokers Center
Naval Training Center
Career Development Center
EIPC Center
Information Center and Library
Publishing Center
Maritime Technology Transfer Center 7

8. Academic trainees / Academic staff Ratio 12:1
Sections
Professors
Associate professors
Other PhD holders
Total
NAVIGATION FACULTY 4 22 3 51
ENGINEERING FACULTY 23 7 53
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING DEPARTMENT - 2 8
TOTAL ACADEMIC STAFF 45 12
112
Academic trainees / Academic staff Ratio 12:1

9. SEAFARER’S COMPETENCY OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF
5 Masters Foreign Going
4 Chief Engineers
2 Chief Mates
2 First Engineers
7 Second and Third Mates
4 Second and Third Engineers
4 Ship’s Electrical Engineer Officers
4 Maritime Security Trainers
13 GMDSS Operators
118 Maritime Instructors

10. ACCREDITATIONS NATO IMO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
Syllabi accreditation
Syllabi accreditation
Military Science vocational domain
Institutional accreditation – 2006
Syllabi accreditation
Transport, Navigation, and Aviation vocational domain
Syllabi accreditation
Institutional accreditation
Syllabi accreditation
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT
IMO
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME
ORGANIZATION
STCW 78/95 model courses,
MARPOL, SOLAS and other conventions
NATO
STANAG publications
Allied publications
Other NATO requirements
DEFENSE AND ARMED FORCES ACT

11. TRAINING OF NAVAL OFFICERS (CADETS)
HIGHER EDUCATION with a BACHELOR degree in :
and
MILITARY SPECIALTY:
COMMAND AND CONTROL OF
NAVAL TACTICAL UNITS
CIVILIAN SPECIALTY:
NAVIGATION
SHIP ENGINEERING
SHIP RADIOELECTRONICS
Admittance exams
Mathematics
Physical fitness
English language
Medical checks
Psycho-physiological fitness
Duration of training: 5 years
State exams
Command and Control of naval tactical units
English language
Physical fitness
Civilian specialty
STANAG 6001 Certification

12. EDUCATION OF STUDENTS FOR THE MERCHANT MARINE
BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS
NAVIGATION FACULTY
SPECIALTIES:
NAVIGATION
INLAND WATERWAY NAVIGATION
SHIP RADIOELECTRONICS
TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF MARITIME TRANSPORT AND PORTS
WATER TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT
ENGINEERING FACULTY
SHIP MACHINERY
SHIP ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
TECHNOLOGY OF SHIP REPAIRS
OCEAN ENGINEERING
Duration of training – 4 years
Academic hours – (240 ECTS Credits)

13. NAVIGATION CURRICULUM
Year
Basic sciences
Technical sciences
Social sciences
Foreign Languages
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others 1
180
240 90 75
165 30
30 days 2
450 15 45
45 days 3
180 days 4
435
Total
420
1425
135
255 days
Total – 2685 hours; 240 ECTS credits 5 State examinations

14. NAVIGATION Professor Ass. Professor PhD Doctoral Exams
MASTER UNLIMITED
Professor
Ass. Professor
PhD
Exam, BMA
Sea service
24 months
(12 as C / M)
CHIEF MATE
Exam, BMA
Sea service
12 months
Doctoral Exams
OIC NAVIGATIONAL WATCH
Exam, BMA
Master’s Degree Program
Cadet internship
6 months
State Exams – Bachelor’s degree
Academic training
Full-time training – 4 years
Extra-mural – 5 years
Internship 6 months
Conventional and
professional certificates
Admittance exams

15. INLAND WATERWAY NAVIGATION CURRICULUM
Year
Basic sciences
Technical sciences
Social sciences
Foreign Languages
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others 1
180
240 90 75
165 30
15 days 2
375 45 3
405
195 15
30 days 4
360
120
60 days
Total
420
1230
645
120 days
Total – 2685 hours; 240 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

16. INLAND WATERWAY NAVIGATION
Professor
Ass. Professor
PhD
Professor
Ass. Professor
PhD
BOATMASTER
Exam, BMA
3 years of service
1 of which as an inland waterway steersman
Exam, BMA
STEERSMAN
Doctoral Exams
Master’s Degree Program
State Exams – Bachelor’s degree
Academic training
Full-time training – 4 years
Extra-mural – 5 years
Internship 4 months
Conventional and
professional certificates
Admittance exams

17. SHIP RADIOELECTRONICS CURRICULUM
Year
Basic sciences
Technical sciences
Social sciences
Foreign Languages
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others 1
180
165
135 30
30 days 2 45
300
375 75 3
585
120 4
570
Total
225
465
1530
480 90
90 days
Total – 2925 hours; 265 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

18. SHIP RADIOELECTRONICS
Professor
Ass. Professor
PhD
Ship radioelectronics
І class
Exam, BMA
Time at sea 24 months
Ship radioelectronics
II class
Exam, BMA
Doctoral Exams
Time at sea 3 months
Master’s Degree Program
State Exams – Bachelor’s degree
Academic training
Full-time training – 4 years
Extra-mural – 5 years
GMDSS
Conventional and
professional certificates
Admittance exams

19. TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF MARITIME TRANSPORT AND PORTS CURRICULUM
Year
Basic Sciences
Technical Sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others
Foreign Languages 1
180
240 45 90
165 30
15 days 2 60
315
150
30 days 3
330
135 75 15 4
450
Total
300
915
540
480
90 days
Total – 2580 hours; 240 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

20. WATER TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM
Year
Basic sciences
Technical sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Physical Training
Maths
Others
Foreign Languages 1
120
240 90 45 30 2
105
330 75 3
315 15 4
375
Total
270
1035
390
150
Total – 2280 hours; 240 ECTS credits Internship – 30 days
2 State examinations

21. SHIP MACHINERY CURRICULUM
Year
Basic Sciences
Technical Sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others
Foreign Languages 1
180
165
195 90 45 30
35 days 2
540 3
105
495
120
100 days 4
600
15 days
Total
210
360
1830
390 75
185 days
Total – 3075 hours; 240 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

22. SHIP MACHINERY Professor Ass. Professor PhD Doctoral Exams
CHIEF ENGINEER > kW
Professor
Ass. Professor
PhD
Exam, BMA
12 Months of Service
SECOND ENGINEER > kW
Exam, BMA
12 Months of Service
Doctoral Exams
OIC ENGINEERING WATCH > 750 kW
Exam, BMA
Master’s Degree Program
Cadet Internship
6 months
State Exams – Bachelor’s degree
Academic Training
Full-time Training – 4 years
Extra-mural – 5 years
Internship 3 months
Conventional and
professional certificates
Admittance exams

23. SHIP ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT CURRICULUM
Year
Basic Sciences
Technical Sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others
Foreign Languages 1
180
165
210 75 90 45 30
35 days 2
145
465
120 3
580
100 days 4
565
15 days
Total
310
1820
150
390
185 days
Total – 3045 hours; 240 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

24. SHIP ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHIP ELECTRICIAN I GRADE
Professor
Ass. Professor
PhD
SHIP ELECTRICIAN I GRADE
Exam, BMA
Time at sea
24 months
Exam, BMA
SHIP ELECTRICIAN II GRADE
Doctoral Exams
Cadet internship
6 months
Master’s Degree Program
State Exams – Bachelor’s degree
Academic Training
Full-time Training – 4 years
Extra-mural – 5 years
Internship 3 months
Conventional and
professional certificates
Admittance Exams

25. SHIP REPAIR TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM
Year
Basic Sciences
Technical Sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others
Foreign Languages 1
180
165
210 75 90 45 30
35 days 2 60
525 3
570
120
84 days 4
16 days
Total
225
1875
135
390
170 days
Total – 3000 hours; 240 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

26. OCEAN ENGINEERING CURRICULUM
Year
Basic Sciences
Technical Sciences
Social sciences
Humanities
Physical Training
Practice
Maths
Others
Foreign Languages 1
180
165
225 75 90 45 30
35 days 2
525 3
630 60
100 days 4
150
22 days
Total
210
255
1905
390
192 days
Total – 3075 hours; 240 ECTS credits 2 State examinations

27. EDUCATION OF MERCHANT MARINE STUDENTS
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS
NAVIGATION FACULTY
NAVIGATION
SHIP ELECTRONICS
PORT MANAGEMENT
ENGINEERING FACULTY
SHIP MACHINERY
SHIP ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
SHIP REPAIRS
Duration of Training years
Academic hours 900 – 2500 ( ECTS Credits)

28. DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
SCIENTIFIC SPECIALTIES
Ship Operation and Navigation
Operation of Water Transport, Seaports and River ports
Radiolocation and Radionavigation
Communications Systems and Networks
Ship Power Plants and Machinery
Technology and Organization of Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing
Ship Power Supply and Electrical Systems
Organization and Management of the Armed Forces
Military Psychology

29. POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
MERCHANT MARINERS
Licensed ship broker and agent training
Conventional certificate training
Training for a higher degree of maritime qualification
Bridge team/resource management courses
Engine team/resource management courses
GMDSS operator training
RADAR / ARPA training
Security officers training
Safety officers training
English Language training
Diver training

30. DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER
A structure within the Postgraduate Training Department
Courses offered to military and civilian students
Courses currently available / in development:
English
Information Technologies
Physics
Mathematics
Economics
Supplementary materials available in all disciplines
Active participation in MoD projects in the area of English language teaching / learning
Last bullet: the MoD is planning to develop a hybrid (distance + resident) Level 4 course that aims to take students to NATO SLP 3333.

31. QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Lloyd’s Register’s ISO 9002:1994 Certificate
Lloyd’s Register’s ISO 9001:2000 Certificate
Lloyd’s Register’s ISO 9001:2008 Certificate
QUALITY POLICY
Attaining and maintaining the high quality of tertiary maritime education towards meeting the aims and objectives of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy based on the age-old traditions of the Academy by:
identifying and meeting national and international standards;
establishing controlled environment for implementing the international standards related to naval and maritime personnel education and training

32. Naval Academy campus Dormitories and the Sports center
Decision of the National
Assembly of Bulgaria of
Dormitory
Large parade
ground
Swimming pool
Sports Hall
Outdoor sports grounds
Hotel
Workshop
Garageр
Outdoor
gymnastics ground
Maritime
Training Center
Naval Museum
Warehouses
Dining facilities
Theater
Small parade ground
Navigation
Faculty”
Engineering
Central
building
Gate
Monument of
N.Y.Vaptsarov
Accacia Dining
Facility
Oil and lubricant
storage
Dormitories and the
Sports center
Dining facilities and theater
Swimming pool
Marine Qualification Center
and Navigation Faculty
Planetarium
Administrative building

33. TRAINING FACILITIES Sea born Training base (80 trainees)
Tall-training ship Kaliakra (30 trainees)
Boat base (10 row boats)
Summer camp
Simulators - 8
Polygons – 4
Planetarium (112 seats)
Damage control centre
Training workshop

34. TRAINING FACILITIES Lecture-halls and classrooms (1600 seats)
Library ( volumes) with Informational computer center
Sports Hall and swimming pool
Computer training center with Internal computer net (283 work stations)
Psycho-physiological labs - 2
Computer labs - 6
Language labs - 4
Other labs - 77
English resource center (SAC)
Publishing center
Cinema and Conference hall (428 seats)
Dormitories - for 1600 trainees
Dining facilities - for 1050 trainees
Museum

35. OPERATING TRAINERS AND SIMULATORS
Name
Skills practiced
Number of seats
Transas Marine
Full vessel control from a visualized navigation bridge 10
Transas GMDSS
Using procedures for communication 6
Transas Engine Room Simulator ERS 4000
All-round practice for ship engineers 12
DIESELSIM Norcontrol
Control and diagnostics of ship diesel engines 5
ALFA LAVAL
Using ship separators
Training Center FESTO
Operating of hydraulic and pneumatic systems 18
Technical Centre SKF
Design and servicing of rolling bearings
Transas VTS
Radar & AIS information processing 8
Hydroacoustics Lab
Sonar information processing
Dangerous Waters
Tactical activities at sea 39
JCATS
Tactical activities at any environment
Planetarium
Astronomical observations
112

36. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
STRATEGIC GOAL
To establish a centre of fundamental and applied science research in the area of naval science and marine technologies providing education and scientific support to the Navy and maritime industry
MAIN AREAS
Marine technologies
Naval science, weaponry and equipment
Maritime safety and security
Navigation
Maritime education and qualification activities

37. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
MEMBERSHIP IN
The International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU)
The International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA)
The Consortium of Military Academies and Defense Studies Institutes
The World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden
Cisco Networking Academy
Microsoft Academy

38. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS CONTACTS WITH NAVAL ACADEMIES
Naval Academy “Mircea cel Batran”, Constantsa, Romania
Turkish Naval Academy , Tuzla, Istanbul
Hellenic Naval Academy, Piareus, Greece
Academia Navale Livorno, Italy
US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
Spanish Naval Academy, Marin, Pontevedra
Naval Academy at Murwik, Flensburg, Germany
Ecole Navale, Brest, France
Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Devon
Sevastopol Naval Institute, Sevastopol, Ukraine

39. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
CONTACTS WITH MARITIME ACADEMIES AND UNIVERSITIES
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London, UK
Constantsa Maritime University, Romania
Istanbul Technical University, Turkey
Piri Reis Maritime University, Istanbul, Turkey
Main Maritime Academy, USA
California Maritime Academy, USA
Gdynia Maritime University, Poland
Odessa National Maritime Academy, Ukraine
Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy, Russia
St. Petersburg State University of Water Transport, Russia
Odessa State University of Water Transport, Ukraine
Batumi State Maritime Academy, Georgia

40. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
ERASMUS PROGRAM
Standard and Extended Erasmus Charter (2007, 2008)
Teaching Staff Mobility Agreement with Constanta Maritime University. Mobility in the period – 2010:
24 professors from the Naval Academy, Varna
22 professors from the Maritime University, Constanta
Students Mobility Agreement with “Stargate Ship Management” and “Ahrenkiel Ship Management” for 45 practice mobilities in 2009 – 2010
Participation in the Military Erasmus Program:
2 cadets in Spanish Naval Academy, Marin, Pontevedra – 2 week seminar
practice on board US and Italian combat ships

41. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
ERASMUS PROGRAMS IN PREPARATION
Bilateral Agreements for Academic Exchange for 2011 – 2013:
Constanta Naval Academy, Romania
Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, Maritime Faculty
University of Applied Sciences, FHS – Vienna, Austria, Department of Intelligent Transport Systems
Military University of Brno, Czech Republic
All programs are signed and pending at Erasmus Office

42. BUSINESS CONTACTS TRANSAS Group, UK Royal Caribbean International
Multraship Towage & Salvage, The Netherlands
Premiere Group Ltd, Norway
Marine Consult, Germany
Keppel Fels Baltech Ltd, Singapore
Kuwait Oil Tanker Company
EURONAV, France
Zodiac Maritime Agencies Ltd, UK
Thenamaris, Greece
K-Line, Japan
Stamco Ship Management Co Ltd, Greece
Union Shipping and Trade Co Ltd, Greece
Star Gate Ltd
Cosmos Shipping
Promar Ltd, Germany
Odyssey Management Consultancy, Dubai, UAE

43. REALISATION OF THE NAVAL ACADEMY’S GRADUATES
There is no unemployment for the Academy’s graduates.
They make $500 M every year.

44. PARTICIPATION OF THE TRAINING VESSELS IN TALL SHIP REGATTAS
England
Italy
USA
Sweden
Naples
TALL SHIP KALIAKRA - WINNER
Cutty Sark 86, 87, 88, 89, 90
Grand Regatta Columbus 92
Cutty Sark 96, 97, 98
Cutty Sark 2001, 2002
Tall Ships 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

45. PARTICIPATION OF THE “IN THE WAKE OF THE BELGICA” EXPEDITION
Europe – Antarctica
Oct – March 2008

46. NAVAL ACADEMY PROSPECTS
ALL-ROUND TRAINING CENTRE FOR PERSONNEL FOR THE NAVY AND THE WATER TRANSPORT SYSTEM
NATIONAL MARITIME SCIENCE AND EDUCATION CENTRE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR MARITIME PERSONNEL FOR BULGARIAN AND INTERNATIONAL MARINE COMPANIES

47. NIKOLA VAPTSAROV
NAVAL ACADEMY
VARNA