Dredger Damaged by Mine in July Raised from the Bottom of the Danube

The dredger “Ingulskyi”, which was damaged during operations in the Bystre estuary, has been successfully raised from the bottom, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reported.

“The vessel has now been sent for a technical inspection, the results of which will determine the scope and procedure of repair works,” the statement said.

USPA emphasized: “We understand the strategic importance of this vessel for ensuring dredging operations, particularly on the Danube. The restoration of Ingulskyi is an important step towards strengthening USPA’s ability to carry out key functions with its own resources.”

On the evening of July 23, the dredger belonging to the “Delta-Pilot” branch of USPA exploded on a mine while operating in the Bystre estuary. At the time, it had 11 crew members on board. As a result of the explosion, three USPA workers were killed. The sea approach channel was temporarily closed for vessel traffic. Navigation through the Bystre Canal was resumed on August 6, allowing the passage of vessels with a draft of up to 4.5 meters.

The lifting and planned restoration of the Ingulskyi dredger is of great importance not only for USPA but also for the entire system of maintaining safety and stability of navigation on the Danube.
This vessel plays a key role in keeping the required depths for vessel passage, directly affecting the efficiency of the Danube ports and Ukraine’s transit capacities.

IDR stresses that the tragedy with the dredger demonstrated the high risks faced by Ukrainian port workers under wartime conditions. At the same time, the prompt reopening of the Bystre estuary and the plans to repair Ingulskyi show Ukraine’s ability to maintain the functionality of its strategic transport arteries even under extremely difficult circumstances.