During the period 1900–1904, Bulgarian maritime activity showed many important changes. Both the number of ships and their total tonnage increased or decreased depending on nationality and type of vessel. Overall, the figures clearly show strong growth in shipping, especially in steam navigation.
In many cases, the number of vessels increased sharply. Some national fleets recorded growth of more than 40 percent, while others showed even higher rises. At the same time, a few fleets experienced small declines in ship numbers but still increased their total tonnage. This means fewer ships were used, but they were larger and more powerful Private Istanbul Tour.
General Growth in Numbers and Tonnage
The total increase during this period amounted to several thousand additional vessels and more than half a million tons of extra tonnage. This growth reflects improvements in port infrastructure, better harbor facilities, and rising international trade.
Steamships played the most important role in this growth. While sailing vessels still existed, their importance continued to decline. Steamers became the main carriers of goods, as they were faster, larger, and more reliable.
Shipping in the Black Sea
The Black Sea ports were visited by ships of many different nationalities. Bulgarian vessels held a strong position in terms of number, especially sailing ships. Bulgarian ships made up almost 60 percent of sailing vessels, but their share of tonnage was smaller. This shows that Bulgarian ships were generally smaller in size.
Foreign steamers dominated the Black Sea trade. Austria-Hungary held a leading position in tonnage, even though it had fewer ships. England also had a strong presence, mainly with large steamships that carried heavy cargo.
Role of Other Nationalities
Turkish vessels were numerous, especially sailing ships, but their tonnage was limited. Greek ships showed a balanced presence, with a moderate number of vessels and a solid share of tonnage. Russian steamers also played an important role, especially in regional trade.
Other countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, and Roumania, participated on a smaller scale. Even so, their ships contributed to the diversity and international nature of Bulgarian maritime commerce.
Bulgarian and Foreign Shipping Compared
When Bulgarian and foreign shipping are compared together, it becomes clear that foreign vessels still dominated total tonnage, while Bulgaria held a stronger position in ship numbers. This situation shows that Bulgaria relied on foreign countries for large-scale transport, especially for heavy and long-distance trade.
In conclusion, the period 1900–1904 was a time of strong growth and change for Bulgarian maritime trade. The total number of ships and overall tonnage increased greatly. Steamships became more important than sailing vessels, and foreign fleets continued to play a key role. At the same time, Bulgaria strengthened its own maritime presence, especially in regional shipping on the Black Sea.