`The Bulgarian government approved two agreements with Lebanon on commercial shipping and international inter modal transport,` the Cabinet`s information service announced after the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers on 27 September. The two agreements were signed on March 3, 2001 in Beirut. The agreement on commercial shipping regulates the general terms for sea shipping between the two countries. Either party grants to the vessels of the other party the same regime as for its own vessels with regard to access to ports, berths, cargo handling equipment, collection of port fees and access to various services. The commercial shipping agreement also regulates the conditions for sailors` stay in ports, aid to vessels in distress, the right to use income and other revenue of the sea-shipping companies on the territory of the other country. Bulgaria and Lebanon grant each other the right to set up representative offices of the sea-shipping companies on their territory. The agreement on international inter modal transport regulates cooperation in the sphere of inter modal transport carried out by transport companies. It aims to improve the reliability and quality of transport services and encourage cargo road transports and transits between the two countries, as well as the use of special transport technologies for railway and sea transport.