The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) plans to dredge inland waterways in 2018, and a Ministry of Infrastructure order has already given the relevant authorization to the Ukrainian Seaports Authority. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority’s head Raivis Veckagans announced this to reporters in Kyiv on January 30, the CFTS correspondent reports.
"Of the 6 million tons of cargo that are transported by river, almost half are transshipped in a roadstead or seaport. By developing the river, we will increase the cargo turnovers in rivers and seaports. Part of the function of dredging inland waterways has already been transferred to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority by a Ministry of Infrastructure order. We will do our best to restore river depths in 2018. We will launch navigation this year on the basis of this order," Veckagans stated.
The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority later clarified to the CFTS that the plan involved dredging River Dnipro.
The exact list of dredging works and the time of their performance will be known after approval of the relevant plan.
"Can we perform dredging works this year? That will depend on the plan for inland waterways that we expect to approve in the period of March-April," Veckagans said.
According to him, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority will use its own dredging fleet and the Ukrvodshliakh company’s fleet to dredge inland waterways.
"We have the dredging fleet of our Delta Lotsman division. In addition, Ukrvodshliakh will give us an additional 28 pieces of dredging equipment," Veckagans said. He added that other contractors might be involved. "I think that we cannot do everything on our own. Therefore, will invite tenders for restoration of internal waterways as much as possible."
As reported, the Nibulon company performed experimental dredging of a section of River Dnipro (50 meters long and 15 meters wide) in the Kamenskyi district in November last year. An area of 750 square meters was deepened by about 40 centimeters.
