The volume of cargo transportation by vessels belonging to the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP) increased by 12.4% to 2.465 million tons in 2013, compared with 2012. The company’s Board Chairman Oleksandr Dolhov announced this during a conference by the company’s employees, the press service of the company announced.
Dolhov said that the first half of the year was "a disaster" for the company because it had significant problems with grains, as well as with export goods. That notwithstanding, UDP ended the year with minimal losses: its losses did not exceed UAH 10-12 million in 2013 compared with losses of UAH 61 million in 2012 and UAH 64 million in 2011.
According to Dolhov, the third quarter was the most successful in 2013 in terms of cargo transport volumes: the shipping company transported 220,000-230,000 tons of cargo per month during this quarter and reached 254,000 tons in October, which is a record for the past few years.
According to the head of UDP, the company plans to restructure in 2014: at least two separate structural units will be created and the administrative and management structure of the company will be reorganized.
As reported, UDP has concluded with the Nicko Tours company (Germany) charter agreements for all its four passenger cruise ships in 2014.
The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company was founded in 1944. It is one of the largest shipping companies in Ukraine. By its own estimates, the company accounts for about 25% of the transport volume on River Danube - from the estuary of the river to the port of Kelheim (Germany). The company's fleet consists of several hundred self-propelled and non-propelled river vessels and sea-going vessels with deadweight tons of 3,000-5,000 (six bulk carriers and one oil tanker). The company also has six passenger ships.
