Reducing waiting times at the Sulina Canal: Ships heading to Ukraine’s Danube ports will be authorized directly from the Black Sea

Authorities will begin clearing vessels bound for Ukraine’s Danube ports while they are still in the Black Sea, before they enter the Sulina Canal. The measure aims to eliminate waiting times that have exceeded two weeks, according to representatives of shipping companies cited by Reuters and Agerpres.

The new procedure would allow more vessels to enter the canal during the day and reduce reliance on berths in Sulina, as well as maneuvers deemed unnecessary. Dozens of vessels are currently blocked at the entrance because of bureaucratic procedures, an insufficient number of pilots and a sudden increase in traffic.

After Ukraine’s Black Sea ports were blocked following Russian attacks, most exports, including grain, were redirected to Danube ports. Ukraine estimates that these ports can export at least 500,000 tonnes of grain per month.

The congestion has extended deliveries to Egypt to more than a month, compared with 12 days previously, while transport costs have risen from $30 to approximately $105 per tonne. Since the beginning of September, Ukraine has exported around 930,000 tonnes of grain, compared with 1.78 million during the same period in 2025.