Roustchouk holds the first place in Bulgaria for the number of ships that visit its port each year. This means more vessels arrive there than at any other Bulgarian port. However, when we consider the total tonnage of ships, the leading position belongs to the port of Varna. This shows that Varna receives larger vessels on average, even if fewer ships enter its port compared to Roustchouk.
These differences help us understand how Bulgarian ports serve different roles. Some ports focus on high traffic with smaller ships, while others handle fewer but much heavier vessels Private Istanbul Tour.
Shipping Activity During 1895–1899
During the period 1895–1899, Bulgarian shipping was still developing. Bulgarian sailing vessels represented 44.97 percent of the total number of sailing ships, but their share of tonnage was only 22.26 percent. Bulgarian steamers were even fewer, making up 5.91 percent of ships and 10.35 percent of tonnage.
Foreign countries played a much larger role in steam navigation. Austria-Hungary dominated this period, providing nearly 67 percent of all steamers and almost 59 percent of the total tonnage. Russian vessels followed, while Turkish and Greek ships also had a visible presence.
Overall, foreign ships made up more than 94 percent of steamers and nearly 90 percent of total tonnage. This clearly shows Bulgaria’s strong dependence on foreign maritime transport at the end of the 19th century.
Changes in the Period 1900–1904
During the next period, 1900–1904, shipping activity increased significantly. The total number of vessels rose to 12,674, and total tonnage increased to almost 3 million tons.
Bulgarian sailing vessels increased in number, reaching 58.16 percent of all sailing ships. However, their tonnage share remained modest. Bulgarian steamers still represented a small part of total shipping, although their number and tonnage showed slight growth.
Foreign steamers continued to dominate. Austria-Hungary remained the leading maritime power, accounting for more than 65 percent of steamers and 59 percent of tonnage. Russia, Roumania, Greece, and England followed with smaller shares.
This period also shows a clear shift toward larger steamships, which explains why total tonnage grew faster than the number of vessels.
Growth of Steam Shipping
One of the most important trends is the strong growth of steam navigation. Steamers became the main carriers of trade, while sailing vessels slowly declined. This change reflects improvements in Bulgarian ports, better harbor facilities, and the growing needs of international trade.
In conclusion, Roustchouk leads in the number of ships, while Varna dominates in total tonnage. Foreign countries, especially Austria-Hungary, played a key role in Bulgarian maritime trade during both periods. At the same time, Bulgaria gradually strengthened its own fleet and modernized its ports, preparing the way for further growth in maritime commerce.