Barges are navigating at half load on the Danube at Giurgiu, as the river is at its lowest level for the season in 10 years, with the gauge at minus 45 centimeters and on a downtrend by six centimeters, according to the data released by the Giurgiu Port Dispatch.
The navigation is proceeding cautiously, with vessels’ draft limited to 1.8 – 1.9 metres (the normal draft being over 2 m), which practically halves the possible load.
Several barges are stranded in Zimnicea (kilometre 567 of the river), between Calarasi and Oltenita (399 km and 533 km plus 500 m), waiting for stronger tugboats to set them afloat.
