Ukraine is working to revive inland ports along the northern edge of the Danube River Delta, following the removal of Russian forces from Snake Island.
Although the river is lined only with small riverine ports, these have taken on greater significance due to Russia’s blockading of all Ukrainian coastlines.
Two of the seaports cut off by the Russian Navy, Odessa and Mykolaiv, have historically handled a large portion of the country’s grain exports, reports The Maritime Executive, leaving Ukraine with few options for exporting its crops, and some 25 million tonnes of grain currently sitting in storage.
An option that Ukraine does have is the use of the Danube River as a route; the shallow-draft inland ports can tranship cargo by barge into Romania for onward transport. The Port of Reni is currently undergoing activation.
If accessible by the sea, the ports could realise even more potential. This is possible by two waterways: the Sulina Canal through Romanian territory, and the Bystry Canal near the mouth of the Danube's northern branch.
Currently over 150 ships have been waiting to enter the Sulina Canal, and until recently, the Bystry estuary route has been closed.
