Romania to restrict passage of vessels carrying dangerous goods through the Sulina Channel

Starting November 1, 2025, Romania will introduce new navigation safety rules on the Danube: only two vessels carrying dangerous goods will be allowed to pass through the Sulina Channel per day.

The information was shared by Avalon Shipping operations manager Kateryna Kononenko via LinkedIn. She noted that these measures, aimed at improving safety, could cause minor delays of up to two days at the channel entrance.

Initially, it was expected that the restrictions would apply only to vessels heading to Brăila or Galați, but new reports confirm that the rule will extend to all tankers and ships transporting hazardous cargo.

The limitation will mainly apply in the morning hours, when navigation traffic is heaviest. Grain carriers and vessels with non-hazardous cargo will not be affected by the new rules.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research :

Romania’s decision to tighten the passage of hazardous cargo through the Sulina Channel reflects growing environmental and safety concerns amid a sharp increase in Danube traffic. Following the reorientation of Ukrainian exports to the Danube ports of Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaisk, the waterway has seen record congestion levels.

Although the restrictions may temporarily slow down logistics along the Danube–Black Sea route, they are expected to reduce the risk of accidents and pollution in the fragile delta ecosystem. In the longer term, such measures could stimulate modernization of navigation systems, improved coordination between Ukrainian and Romanian authorities, and an expansion of port capacities on both sides of the border.