Kiev expecting transshipment at Danube ports to grow 20% in 2023

MOSCOW. April 27 (Interfax) - Cargo transshipment at Danube ports may grow to 20 million tonnes by the end of this year, compared to 16 million tonnes last year, which thrice exceeds the pre-crisis amount, Ukrainian Prime Minister, Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Alexander Kubrakov said.

"Although the ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaisk have practically used the available capacities for cargo transshipment to the fullest extent, there is still potential for further development. Namely, modernization and renewal of port infrastructure, attraction of investments for the construction of new terminals, and port deepening. At least $120 million investment is necessary," the Ukrainian media quoted Kubrakov as saying during a trip to the Odessa region together with U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, USAID Mission Director in Ukraine James Hope, Danube Commission Director-General Manfred Seitz and representative of the European Commission Directorate General of Mobility and Transport Alain Baron.

The visit sent a clear message: international partners are ready to invest in Danube ports, Kubrakov said.

Despite problems, the ports of Izmail and Reni have been deepened, every declared characteristic of the ports and canals has been restored, and the draft currently stands at 6.5 meters. Kubrakov said. In his words, essential port infrastructure has been provided, alongside new flows of containers, bulk, grain and other cargo. More than 20 terminals have been put into operation. New reloading technologies are being applied: there are floating cranes, mobile reloaders, lighters, storage vessels used as floating warehouses, etc. New temporary warehouses equipped with scales and laboratories have been built in the ports, he said.

Kubrakov noted the importance of resuming rail traffic between Basarabeasca and Berezino for the sake of swift cargo delivery to ports.

"We are continuing to work on traffic between Giurgiulesti on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border and the Romanian port of Galati," he said in conclusion.