Romanian Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced that the country aims to increase the monthly transit capacity for Ukrainian grain to the main port of Constanta on the Black Sea to four million tons in the coming months, particularly via the Danube River. Grindeanu stated that with the appointment of more staff to facilitate the passage of vessels to the Sulina Channel on the Danube, and with the completion of infrastructure projects funded by the European Union, Romania could enhance its transport capacity.
After a meeting with representatives from the European Union, the United States, Moldova, and Ukraine in the town of Galati on the Danube, he emphasized the importance of Romanian railways and land and maritime transport routes to maintain a continuous flow of Ukrainian exports. He added, "It was a good meeting that will guide us through the agreed procedures to increase the capacity for grain transit from more than two million tons per month at present to about four million tons in the coming months."
Grindeanu also mentioned that the Romanian Danube Administration would have 60 pilots to guide vessels in and out of the Sulina Channel by the end of August. He added that a project funded by the European Union aimed at enabling nighttime navigation in Sulina is expected to be completed in October. He stated, "With the implementation of all these investments and the increase in the number of pilots, the ports of Galati and Braila will automatically be utilized alongside Reni and Ismail."
Additionally, the Romanian Navy deployed a ship and helicopter on Monday to search for mines off the country's Black Sea coast after a maritime dock in the coastal resort of Costinesti was severely damaged in an explosion. The Romanian Navy reported that "divers are still investigating to confirm whether a mine might be the cause of the explosion that damaged the maritime dock and did not result in any casualties," and added that "reports of another mine explosion near the port of Mangalia are unfounded."
