Bulgarian operator working with Reni and Izmail ports sues Romanian authorities

The Romanian Maritime Administration has filed an appeal in the case of the Bulgarian company Polaris 8 LTD, which was previously fined for cabotage operations without a permit in the port of Medgidia.

The legal dispute between the Bulgarian river operator Polaris 8 LTD and the Romanian Maritime Administration continues after an appeal was filed with the Constanta court. This is reported by the ZIUA publication.

The case was opened after an inspection in July 2025, when inspectors of the port of Medgidia fined the company 10 thousand lei for using barges without a valid permit for cabotage operations. The matter concerned inland waterway transportation through Romanian territory.

In March 2026, the Medgidia court partially satisfied the company’s complaint and replaced the fine with a warning. The court took into account the low water level on the Danube, due to which the company temporarily used other barges, as well as the fact that the operator received permission from the Ministry of Transport just two days after the inspection.

At the end of April, the Romanian Maritime Administration filed an appeal and demanded the return of the initial fine. The latest changes in the case are dated May 22, 2026.

Polaris 8 LTD operates in the port of Medzhidiya at the Dana 15 terminal and specializes in the transportation of bulk cargoes on the Danube. The company also operates flights to the Ukrainian ports of Reni and Izmail.

The operator’s fleet consists of two pusher tugs and nine non-self-propelled barges. The main cargoes are coal, ore, crushed stone, sand and other bulk materials.

Earlier, USM reported that Bulgaria is investing about €7 million in the development of the Varna and Burgas terminals