Ukraine and Romania work to increase the capacity of Danube ports

The Ukrainian authorities are trying to intensify cargo transportation across the Danube amid a decrease in the number of ship calls to the ports of Great Odesa.

This was заявив stated by First Deputy Minister on Development of Communites and Territories Serhiy Derkach in a comment to Ukrinform.

According to him, the number of ship calls to the ports of Great Odesa has decreased, but their work has not been stopped.

“We are not stopping the ports. There are ships that still enter, there are ships that leave. Now their number has been reduced, but we hope that the measures will be resumed. The ports of the Danube are also working. We are cooperating with Romania in order to intensify work on increasing their capacity, as was the case in 2022 and 2023, when we had difficulties with maritime logistics. And then the ports of the Danube closed all processes,” said Derkach.

The Danube ports have become one of the main alternative routes for Ukrainian exports after the start of the full-scale invasion and blockade of the Black Sea ports. After the resumption of the ports of Great Odesa, part of the cargo returned to deep-sea transshipment, which significantly reduced the loading of the Danube ports.

According to Derkach, Ukraine also has the ability to transport export and import cargo by rail and road. Ukrzaliznytsia, in particular, is restoring locomotives damaged by Russian attacks.

“As of today, we do not see a crisis. The President held a special meeting on the issue of how to proceed with the issue of ensuring the operation of the sea corridor. Therefore, I think this issue is definitely on the agenda of the state’s top officials, everyone knows about it and will definitely solve it by all methods,” the official noted.

Commenting on the reduction in grain exports, Derkach said that currently the stocks of last year’s harvest are mainly being exported abroad.

“That is, farmers can wait and know how to wait. We need to talk to them about how critical it is for them to export something now. We do not see such a need to export it right now,” he added.

In July, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian port and railway infrastructure. Due to security risks, some shipowners have reduced or suspended operations to Ukrainian Black Sea ports, although the maritime corridor formally continues to operate. As USM reported the day before, shipowners operating on the Ukrainian route are increasingly facing problems with crewing.