Ukraine and Romania seek 24/7 pilot operations on Sulina Canal

Ukraine is negotiating with Romania and the European Commission to introduce round-the-clock pilot operations on the Sulina Canal. The move is expected to increase the capacity of one of the key routes for Ukrainian exports via the Danube.

Vessel pilotage through the Sulina Canal is currently provided by Romania’s Administrația Fluvială a Dunării de Jos (AFDJ), while navigation is limited to daytime hours. Ukraine is also working with Romania on the training and certification of Ukrainian pilots who could operate on the route in the future.

The need to increase Sulina’s capacity has intensified amid disruptions to maritime logistics and Russian attacks on port infrastructure. Over the past month, Ukrainian Danube ports have already tripled their cargo handling volumes.

At the same time, a record number of vessels since February 2022 passed through the Sulina Canal in August. Ukraine and Romania continue working to further expand the route’s capacity as it plays an increasingly important role in maintaining Ukrainian exports.

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) stressed that vessel passage is organized according to an established procedure, with the date on which a vessel confirms its readiness for handling being the key factor in determining the queue. USPA also warned market participants against offers of priority passage through Sulina, as the current system provides no such option.

Tags: EU, Sulina Canal, Ukraine, Romania