PJSC "Ukrainian Danube Shipping" (UDP) began to gradually reduce the loading of barges due to the seasonal period of shallow water on the Danube. This was reported by acting general director of UDP Dmytro Moskalenko.
Fortunately, the drop in the water level is not critical at the moment. The issue of closing navigation is not considered yet. But everything can be. Navigation was closed twice last year. Shallow water is a primordial Danube problem, which has been discussed for more than a decade," said the head.
As Moskalenko reported, the problem was discussed last week at the conference of directors of Danube shipping companies. The event took place after a four-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic (it was last held in 2019 in Romania). Companies from Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine were represented.
The most problematic sections from the point of view of depths are located on the Bulgarian section of the Danube. In periods of shallow water, Bulgarian breakwaters not only force ship owners to reduce draft. UDP at this time, let's say, is not taking any risksto use some types of vessels, for example, powerful tugs "three thousand" or "self-propelled". It is necessary to work with less powerful, but more passable tugs "two thousand". Most other Danube companies have similar problems. Everyone suffers losses. According to foreign colleagues, efforts to solve the problem at the local level do not lead to anything. There is a lack of a general procedure that would provide the necessary finances for the maintenance of waterways," said Moskalenko.
According to the common conviction of shipowners, shipping companies should not "play the role of a supplicant", so the problem should be solved at the interstate level. According to the manager, the conference participants agreed to hold regular consultations on this topic and coordinate actions.
PJSC "UDP" carries out river freight transportation on the Danube. The company operates more than 20 self-propelled vessels of the cargo river fleet and approximately 200 non-self-propelled vessels, which allows the operation of approximately 20 barge caravans.
In 2022, the company transported 1.8 million tons of cargo by sea and river fleet. The basis of cargo in 2022 was grain and metallurgical raw materials. In addition, the company began to develop the direction of container transportation and launched regular container caravans.
According to the results of 2022, PrJSC "UDP" received more than UAH 1 billion in profit after a loss of UAH 38 million for the previous year.