Abstract:
The utilisation of the Danube as a waterway has always fallen short of its potential. This is mainly attributable to the geographical characteristics of the river. The Danube’s water flow is uneven, with frequent low water levels in late summer and autumn. Another disadvantage is that it has few navigable tributaries, of which the Rivers Drava, Sava and the Tisza are of such size and flow that navigation is theoretically possible. The development of navigation on the Danube has always been hampered by the fact that it reaches the sea via a delta estuary, and the navigability of the individual branches could only be ensured by regular maintenance.
Since the opening of the Danube-Black Sea Canal in 1984, Constanza has been steadily developing and is now the sea gateway to the Danube. In recent years, Constanza has become the largest grain port in Europe, and the traffic on the Danube-Black Sea Canal has steadily increased, reducing the importance of the Danube Delta shipping routes and ports. In the changed geopolitical situation, it was precisely the cooperation between the ports along the estuary, the canal and Constanza, and the increase of the Danube fleet’s transport capacity that became necessary. The management of the problems of Danube navigation was put in a new perspective.
The study is available online here.