Ships with Deeper Draughts Can't Navigate Certain Sections of Danube

Bratislava, 29 July (TASR) - Ships with deeper draughts are unable to navigate certain sections of the River Danube in Slovakia due to unfavourable water levels, the Transport Authority told TASR on Wednesday, adding that until conditions improve, these vessels will remain in ports or at anchor. "The current water levels are unfavourable for vessels with deeper draughts. As these vessels are unable to navigate certain sections of the Danube, they'll remain in ports or at anchor, awaiting an improvement in the hydrological situation," stated the authority. The Danube is currently at an exceptionally low level. The river's current low flow rates are among the lowest in recent decades. Measures have therefore been taken to manage water more efficiently. "In order to make the most efficient use of the available water, in cooperation with Slovak Water Management Company (SVP) and the Transport Authority, we have, among other things, adjusted the arrangements for vessels passing through the locks at the Gabcikovo Waterworks [Trnava region]," stated state-run water-management construction company Vodohospodarska vystavba (VV) on social media. Vodohospodarska vystavba noted that each time a lock chamber is drained, the water level upstream drops by approximately one centimetre. "Vessels will therefore pass through the locks in designated cycles, thereby limiting unnecessary water loss while maintaining the safety and smooth flow of navigation," it noted, adding that it's continuing to monitor the situation on the Danube closely. "As meteorologists don't expect any significant rainfall in the Danube catchment area in Austria and Germany in the next few days, it is essential to manage water responsibly and use it as efficiently as possible," pointed out VV. SVP spokesperson Marian Bocak told TASR that, as part of efforts to make the use of the locks at the Gabcikovo Waterworks more efficient, ships will only be allowed to pass through the locks when they are at least 40 percent full. am/df