Ukraine resumes navigation through the Bystre Canal from August 6

From 00:01 on August 6, 2025, Ukraine officially resumes the passage of ships through the Bystre Canal with a maximum draft of up to 4.5 meters. This step will reduce costs for shipowners and contribute to the intensification of trade using the Danube route, where freight negotiations have recently been complicated by rising logistical costs.

The canal has been closed since July 23 after a dredger explosion near Vylkovo, which forced ship operators to reorient to the Romanian Sulina Canal with higher port dues. This significantly increased voyage costs, provoked a gap in freight expectations between sellers and buyers, and led to minimal activity in the market. The restoration of the passage through the Bystre should stabilize the situation.