Germany's federal border protection agency, which has been advising and assisting Bulgaria's border police in improving security in coastal areas and on the River Danube, has specified Quicksilver boats as part of a new patrol fleet.

The first two fully-equipped Quicksilver 580 Pilothouse craft have been delivered to the Bulgarian authorities in the port of Vidin.  These 5.95-metre fibreglass boats, each equipped with a Mercury 90HP (67kW) outboard, will carry up to six people.

This upgrading of the service has been brought about by the agreement that Bulgaria should join the European Union.  It becomes one of the countries which make up the external borders of the enlarged EU and the border police have responsability for waterways that carry over 30,000 commercial vessels per year, plus leisure and fishing craft.

The Quicksilver boats have been supplied and will be maintained by the Sofia-based dealership Bulmer.