By KYIV. Nov 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The first caravans of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UPD) with European grain are preparing for unloading in Constanta, the company has reported.
“The pilot voyages were difficult, because they coincided with a period of shallow water. However, even under such conditions, the new logistics route turned out to be successful,” the UPD press service wrote on its Telegram channel.
According to the report, the duration of voyages to the Middle Danube was about a month. The caravans picked up ore in Ukraine, delivered it to Smederevo (Serbia), unloaded it, washed it, went up to Hungary, where they loaded grain and sent it back to Romanian Constanta.
“We are quite satisfied with the profitability of the trips. Unlike the “old UDP,” the “new UDP” works directly with the owners of the cargo – one of the largest metallurgical plants in Europe and a large international grain trader. In addition, fuel consumption and compliance with trip assignments are monitored online throughout the entire voyage,” the state-owned company said.
The state-owned company said that if UDP caravans can operate 24/7, this will reduce the caravan turnaround time by about a week, which will increase the profitability of trips by another 20%. Working 24/7 requires a crew of three navigators with category C diplomas. Despite the chronic shortage of navigators on the Danube, the UPD has already been able to create such teams.
“The UDP fleet helped the state at a critical moment of the blockade of Odesa ports. We continue to earn foreign currency for the country’s budget, but now under long-term contracts on the Middle Danube,” the UDP said.
