Ukraine restarts shipping through Bystre canal connecting Danube to Black Sea
Photo: Ukraine has resumed shipping through the Bystre estuary canal (Getty Images)
Starting today, August 6, shipping traffic has been resumed through the Bystre estuary sea channel, which connects the Danube River and the Black Sea, according to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.
"Navigation is permitted for vessels with a draft of up to 4.5 meters, with mandatory pilotage and exclusively during daylight hours," the administration says.
Before resuming traffic through the Bystre estuary channel, the relevant services, including the Ukrainian Navy, conducted measurements and mine clearance surveys in the area near the Inhulskyi emergency dredger.
"Based on the results of the work, the possibility and conditions for resuming navigation were determined. A set of measures was also carried out to check the technical condition of the channel and organize safe navigation in cooperation with the relevant services and following the requirements of current legislation," the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority adds.
Bystre estuary was closed
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Bystre estuary has been closed due to ships hitting sea mines.
Traffic through the estuary was first resumed in August 2022. It was followed by small river-sea bulk carriers, the largest of which was the Chelsea, 138 meters long and with a displacement of 6,135 tons.
The water corridor was then closed for hydrographic work, in particular to deepen the bottom, which would allow much larger ships to pass through.
