Romanian inland vessel Phoenix Jupiter sinks on the Danube

An accident involving the Romanian inland cargo vessel Phoenix Jupiter has been recorded on the Danube. The vessel ran aground and subsequently sank at river kilometre 530, near the city of Zimnicea. According to preliminary information, the incident occurred several days ago; the causes and consequences for navigation are currently being clarified.

According to vessel registries, Phoenix Jupiter was built in the Netherlands in 1930. Over its operational history, the vessel changed names (Eugenia, later Edmond). In 2018, it was acquired by Phoenix Shipping & Trading Constanta, renamed Phoenix Jupiter, and operated under the Romanian flag. The vessel’s main technical characteristics include a length of 80 m, a beam of 9.2 m, and a deadweight capacity of 1,425 tonnes.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research :

“This incident once again highlights systemic risks affecting inland navigation on the Danube. Limited depths, hydrological variability, intensive traffic, and the continued operation of ageing vessels collectively increase the likelihood of groundings and sinkings. For the Danube macro-region, this case underlines the need to strengthen technical supervision, accelerate fleet renewal, and ensure sustained investment in fairway maintenance and navigation infrastructure. Without a comprehensive safety approach, both environmental and logistical risks will continue to grow.”