Solutions from Ukraine: Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company introduces SLG barge with increased cargo capacity

Photo: Dmytro Moskalenko/ General Director of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company

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The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company launched the first barge of the SLG type, which has a larger capacity and enables the transportation of a larger cargo volume.

The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company reports this on its website.

What is the problem?

It should be noted that during the years of independence, Ukraine used very few rivers for transportation. According to some studies, this is only 0.2% of the possibilities of river transportation.

But with the beginning of the great Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, all Black Sea ports were actually blocked. Accordingly, it became impossible to export agricultural products.

Ukraine started looking for ways and found the option of the Danube ports. Products can be supplied not only through the Black Sea but also upstream of the Danube River because Ukraine is one of the Danube countries.

A year ago, the government planned to increase the throughput of the ports of Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaisk. If, before the changes, the cargo turnover of these ports was 30 tons per month, then in six months, it increased to almost 2 million tons, i.e., more than 50 times.

However, even this is not enough to completely replace the export of Ukrainian grain by sea.

Ukraine generally has powerful arteries like the Danube, Dnipro, and Southern Buh. Indeed, these rivers can be used both for domestic transportation and trade with foreign countries.

What is the solution?

To increase the tonnage for the transportation of Ukrainian grain, the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company launched the first barge of the SLG type.

How does it work?

The ship is built according to the principle of conversion.

"For river transportation, this type of vessel hasn't been used in a while. However, they can serve as donors for building larger river barges. Pieces of two lighters are joined together using an insert cut from a third lighter," the message reads.

^{Photo: Dmytro Moskalenko / General Director of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company}

The cost to produce SLG barges is significantly less than that of a brand-new vessel.

^{Photo: Dmytro Moskalenko / General Director of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company}

The program was started back in the spring, and the construction of 30 new vessels is planned.

"Since the beginning of the year, we have overhauled more than 50 vessels, a record number. The workshops are already cutting and preparing for docking part of the next SLG barges," the shipping company added.

^{Photo: Dmytro Moskalenko / General Director of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company}

All work on constructing new barges is carried out at the factory.

It should be noted that after  withdrawal from the "grain agreement," Russia constantly attacked the port and grain infrastructure of Ukraine. In particular, the ports of the Odesa region came under attack.

In addition, the occupiers repeatedly attacked the port of Izmail, which is located near the border with Romania.

For reference:

Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company is one of the largest shipping companies both in Ukraine and in the Danube region. The company manufactures 20% of transportation products for the 2,400 km stretch from the mouth of the Danube River to the port of Kelheim, Germany.

Ukrainian Danube Shipping has a river fleet of 75 self-propelled vessels and 245 non-self-propelled fleet units. The company also operates a fleet of foreign joint ventures, which includes 125 non-self-propelled fleet units.

It should be noted that the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company repaired the dry cargo ship "Vylkove."

Rubryka also reported that two Ukrainian-made combat boats were handed over to Ukraine's armed forces from benefactors.