Danube River Low Water Levels Disrupt Shipping

Water levels on the Danube River have dropped three to four metres below normal levels. This decline has made certain sections of the waterway barely passable for vessels. In Romania, authorities have implemented intensive dredging to attempt to improve minimum navigation depths. Approximately 80 ships have been dropped or halted upstream due to the conditions. Two ferry lines face potential temporary closure if water levels drop an additional 20 inches. Low water levels in the Danube have forced a line of approximately 20 cargo ships to anchor and wait near Tutrakan for water levels to rise. The shortage of depth is also impacting river cruise ships traveling through Bulgaria on Eastern European tours.