I was a cadet with Navibulgar. With Ukrainian documents, I had to return home before every call at a Russian port, and the company’s vessels called at Russian ports constantly.
I worked for Navibulgar in 2023. Internet access was very expensive: about $90 for 100 minutes. The food was extremely poor, including an unpleasant-smelling intestine soup and pasta with a piece of meat on Sundays. A captain also questioned why I was clean because I worked in the engine department and threatened to report me to the company; I knew it would be my first and last contract there.
I currently work for Navibulgar. The food allowance is $8.50, while 5 GB of internet costs $30 and the connection is often unavailable. I have also found that some Bulgarian staff are not very willing to work with Ukrainian crew members, and Ukrainian cooks are not well regarded by local staff.
I worked for Navibulgar as a motorman for one contract. My salary was $1,800, the contract lasted four months, and I worked until noon on Saturdays with Sundays off.
I joined Navibulgar as a chief officer after a video interview and completed an RT-flex course provided by the company. We had agreed on a vessel no older than 2020, but I was offered a 2010 vessel; I accepted after being promised an additional $500, which was not included in the contract and was never paid. I also had to travel to Varna at my own expense, with reimbursement promised. On board, my cabin and the engine control room were dirty and smoky, and I was told not to report a shortage of about 20 tonnes of diesel and heavy fuel oil because the master was covering for the chief officer.