Professional holiday of Rousse shipbuilders

A year after the liberation from Turkish rule in 1879 Russia officially gave to the Principality of Bulgaria military vessels with a ship repair workshop in Rousse, which becomes part of the organizational structure of the fleet and the Sea part in Rousse. Along with names like Rousse Port plant, mechanical plant, repair shop, etc., in maritime history this workshop is popular as Naval arsenal - Ruse. It is the first metalworking plant in Bulgaria. It is the largest enterprise of the Bulgarian steel industry until the beginning of XX century by technical base and by number of workers. The first ship repair is made with the adjustment of a wheel steamer for Alexander Battenberg’s yacht called "Experience". In 1881 was built the first Bulgarian ship "Bot-1" in Ruse, in length 16 m, width 3 meters and a displacement of 60 tons, which marked the beginning of Bulgarian shipbuilding. November 4th is celebrated as Professional holiday of Rousse shipbuilders 1993. (Photo: morskivestnik.com)