ORCA in Bulgaria

About ORCA Crew establishment in Bulgaria

ORCA Crew Services Bulgaria – Varna Branch

ORCA Crew Services operates a fully established branch office in Varna, Bulgaria – strategically located on the western Black Sea coast to provide compliant, efficient and highly competitive crew management services to shipowners and operators worldwide.

Varna – Bulgaria’s Maritime Heart

Founded as Odessos by Greek settlers in the 6th century BC, Varna has been a vital trading and naval centre for over 2,500 years. With a population of approximately 335,000, it is Bulgaria’s undisputed sea capital. The city hosts a modern commercial port, major ship repair and shipbuilding yards, extensive maritime training infrastructure and a thriving cruise terminal.

Varna is home to some of Europe’s most respected and long-established maritime education institutions, led by the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy – one of the oldest maritime academies in the world (established 1881) and consistently ranked among the top institutions globally for officer training. Complementing the Naval Academy are several highly regarded private maritime academies and licensed training centres that meet or exceed international STCW standards, producing motivated, well-trained cadets and ratings year after year.

Bulgaria – A Leading Supplier of World-Class Seafarers

Thanks to its strong coastline, deep maritime tradition and excellent educational system, Bulgaria is recognised as one of the top crew-supplying nations worldwide. Over 25,000 Bulgarian officers and ratings are currently active across all shipping sectors – from tankers and bulk carriers to container lines, cruise ships and offshore installations. Bulgarian seafarers are valued for their technical proficiency, excellent command of English, disciplined approach and seamless adaptation to international safety and operational standards.

ORCA Crew Services Bulgaria – Varna Branch

From our permanent office in central Varna, we deliver full-cycle crew management services in complete accordance with Bulgarian labour law, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) and all flag-state requirements.

Key advantages include:

- Bulgarian payroll and full social-security compliance – Transparent remuneration in EUR or USD, correct contributions to the Bulgarian social and health insurance system, and rapid A1 / EU social security certificate issuance.
- Efficient documentation support – Fast processing of STCW certificates, seaman’s books, visas and endorsements through direct, long-standing cooperation with the Bulgarian Maritime Administration.
- Priority access to top-tier talent – Close partnerships with the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and other respected maritime academies and training centres, ensuring first selection of the best graduates and experienced personnel across all ranks.
- 24/7 operational support – Multilingual team (Bulgarian, English, Russian) on standby around the clock for urgent crew changes in Varna, Burgas, Constanța, Istanbul or any Black Sea and Mediterranean port.
- Competitive, high-quality manning solutions – Cost-effective all-inclusive packages built on rigorously trained, professionally qualified seafarers.

With our branch rooted in the home of Bulgaria’s finest maritime academies, ORCA Crew Services guarantees shipowners a steady supply of officers and ratings who combine academic excellence with real-world reliability.

Black Sea Coast
European standards. Black Sea value. Delivered globally.