Domarin Builds New Inland Navigation Berths on the Danube.

Domarin, a subsidiary of Felbermayr, has begun constructing two new berths for inland vessels in Aschach on the Danube. The project aims to modernise river infrastructure, enhance navigation safety and improve the operational capacity of this section of the waterway.

Construction Progress

The works started with the removal of existing shoreline rock and the drilling of 23 large replacement boreholes (DN 1500) through gravel and stone layers. Each borehole will be filled with 40–50 tonnes of gravel, totalling approximately 1,000 tonnes of material.

Domarin is installing massive steel piles, known as “dolphins”, into the prepared boreholes. Technical specifications:

• diameter — 1,220 mm
• wall thickness — 35 mm
• length — 18–20 m
• penetration into rock — up to 9 m

The piles are inserted using heavy-duty vibratory drivers.

Pontoon “Kilian” — Core Platform for Water-Based Operations

The waterworks are supported by the high-capacity pontoon “Kilian”, with a load capacity of 1,100 tonnes. It is stabilised by four powerful spud poles.

Equipment on board includes:

• a drilling rig (capacity 150 tonnes)
• a cable crane (230 tonnes)
• a vibratory device (10 tonnes)

Domarin executes the works on the water, while Felbermayr is responsible for land-based construction.

IDR (Institute for Danube Research) Expert Comment

The Institute for Danube Research notes that infrastructure modernisation on the Danube — including projects such as the construction of new berths in Aschach — is an important component of strengthening Europe’s inland waterway network and improving the resilience of the Danube transport corridor.

1. Importance for Inland Navigation

The new berths will:

• enhance manoeuvring and mooring safety;
• provide additional mooring capacity for operational and technical stops;
• improve the throughput of the river section;
• ensure long-term structural stability under variable hydrological conditions.

2. Technical Standards and Environmental Considerations

The use of deep boreholes and massive steel piles ensures high structural reliability with minimal impact on the riparian zone.
The “Kilian” pontoon, one of the most powerful in the region, enables precise and safe installation works.

3. Alignment with European Transport Priorities

The project supports:

• EU inland waterway modernisation goals under NAIADES,
• the TEN-T objective of upgrading port and berth infrastructure,
• Europe’s broader transition to climate-resilient transport systems.

“Upgrading inland navigation infrastructure along the Danube is essential for sustainable logistics, competitive river transport, and the integration of regional economies into the European transport system,”
— the IDR noted.