Tulcea (Romania)

Tulcea is a Danube River cruise port and city in Dobrogea Romania (Dobruja region) with population around 75,000.

The town was established in the 7th century BC under the name "Aegyssus". The Romans conquered it in 15 AD and later rebuilt it. The Byzantine rule started in the 5th century AD. Tulcea was abandoned by mid-7th-century due to Barbarian invasions and later the territory was annexed by the Bulgarian Empire (7th-14th century). Inhabitation was restored during the 2nd half of 10th-century, because the Byzantines erected a fortress on the site after reconquering the area. In 1064, the fortress was destroyed by an attack of Uzes. Around 1420, the Ottoman Turks conquered the region and ruled it for the following 4 centuries.

Under the name Tulcea, the town was first documented in 1506 AD. In 1848, it was a small shipyard town, which in 1860 received city status. Along with Northern Dobruja, in 1878 Tulcea was given to Romania. During WW1 (1914-1918) it was occupied by the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria).

VARD Tulcea shipyard

Tulcea shipyard is owned by the VARD company - subsidiary of the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The shipbuilding yard is located upstream of Tulcea, on Danube River's right bank.

Currently, the yard has over 3000 employees and also provides jobs to many Romanian subcontractors. VARD's other Romanian shipyard is in Braila. At VARD's Romanian yards are constructed the hulls of most newbuild ships (cruise, ferries, also offshore and specialized vessels).

• VARD is one of the world's largest marine vessel designer companies and a renown shipbuilder of specialized and customized vessels. The company is headquartered in Alesund Norway and has around 9000 employees, VARD operates a total of 9 shipbuilding yards located in Norway (5), Romania (2), Brazil (1) and Vietnam (1). Through VARD's specialized subsidiary companies are developed power plants, navigation and automation systems, deck equipment, stateroom solutions, design and engineering. 
• VARD's majority shareholder (79,34%) is Fincantieri Oil & Gas, which is wholly owned by FINCANTIERI SpA. The shipbuilder FINCANTIERI is headquartered in Trieste Italy, and is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding companies.

In October 2010, at the VARD Tulcea shipyard was inaugurated the company's Basic Design Department, with constantly employed over 200 engineers developing marine vessel documentations (technical and production, also cruise ship design). The new Department is connected with VARD Design (Alesund Norway).

VARD's marine vessel design projects utilize advanced model testing and analyses. Here are also developed deck layouts and the main onboard equipment, as well as technical documentation (capacities, main features, structural strength, machinery, electrical systems).