Title: Stranded Egyptian Seamen Face Increasing Danger on the Danube River
Subtitle: Attacks on Ukrainian ports and threats to shipping raise concerns for cargo ships in NATO-controlled territory
Date: [Current Date]
After more than two weeks of being stranded in a Black Sea traffic jam, cargo ships carrying Egyptian seamen finally reached solid ground last weekend, replenishing their supplies of fresh water and food. However, the relief was mixed with alarm as they prepared to navigate the Sulina Channel, a branch of the Danube River within NATO territory, where Russia recently attacked Ukrainian river ports.
The traffic congestion in the Black Sea prompted ships to explore alternatives, with the Danube delta appearing to be a relatively safe option, despite the congestion. However, Russia’s bombing of Ukrainian grain-loading facilities in the delta and the recent attack on a cargo ship by Russian forces in the Black Sea spoke to the increasing dangers faced by seamen.
Russian forces attacked two Ukrainian ports on the Danube earlier this week, damaging granaries and warehouses used for exporting grain. Amidst these risks, the 40-mile Sulina Channel has been a crucial lifeline for Ukraine, ensuring the uninterrupted export of Ukrainian grain under NATO’s protective umbrella.
Officials from the European Union and the United States met in the Romanian port town of Galati to discuss measures to not only keep the Sulina Channel open but also expand its role. These measures include installing new navigation equipment to allow ships to use the channel around the clock. It was revealed that Ukrainian grain exports via the Danube are expected to more than double, although no specific timeframe was mentioned.
The scene at a beach near Sulina exemplified the failure of Russian efforts to choke off Danube delta shipping. Beyond the beach, numerous ships waited at sea for their turn to enter the heavily congested Sulina Channel. To alleviate the congestion, Romania has started recruiting maritime pilots from the military to aid in guiding ships to their destinations.
Romanian officials emphasized that for the route to reach its full potential, Ukraine should reduce its reliance on its own river ports and increase shipping volumes from Romanian ports on the Danube. Romanian ports in close proximity to the Ukrainian border, such as Galati and Braila, offer protection under Romania’s NATO membership.
Ukrainian officials acknowledged that increased volumes of grain could be directed to Romanian ports in the future, but improvements to railway lines would be necessary to facilitate this shift. However, diverting grain shipments to Romanian ports could mean forfeiting loading fees and other revenues associated with Ukrainian river ports.
Efforts to keep the Danube delta open evoke historical conflicts between Russia and the West. When Russia annexed the delta in 1829, it disrupted shipping by establishing a quarantine station in Sulina during the Crimean War. The delta was later handed over to a consortium of European nations to manage, and the Sulina Channel was dredged and straightened for efficient navigation.
While the area off the coast of Romania near Sulina has thus far been safe, the Romanian defense ministry stated that Constanta, Romania’s biggest Black Sea port, has become the main alternative grain route since Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal. To ensure the safety of Constanta, NATO’s “eyes in the sky” provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities over Romania and its territorial waters in the Black Sea.
Despite the risks, there doesn’t appear to be panic in Sulina. The local residents have become accustomed to the war on their doorstep, likening it to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. However, the ongoing attacks on Ukrainian ports and threats to shipping demand continued vigilance to ensure safe navigation in the Danube River.
Contributing Reporters: Delia Marinescu, Bucharest, Romania; Tomas Dapkus, Vilnius, Lithuania; Jenny Gross, London.