MYKOLAIV, OCTOBER, 23rd, 2009, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – Over the period of nine months of 2009 1 thousand and 75 vessel passed though the Bystroye Channel, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

Directo fo GE Delta Pilot Aleksandr Golodnitskiy informed about it today 23 October at the press-conference.

According to him, since navigation in Ukrainian part of the Danube was renewed in April 2007, 3 thousand 163 ships have passed through it. 20 vessels were of 5 m and more draft. Nine of them passed the Channel in 2009.

As Mr. Golodnitskiy informed further in July 2009 one of the largest metal producers Arcelor Mitatal changed their ore supply route to their plant in Galati, Romania for the Bystroye Channel. Passenger transporters also prefer this channel. In April 2009 a Moldovan vessel Princess Helen after making a trip to Istanbul through the Danube–Black Sea Canal changed it for the Ukrainian one.

INFORMATION: Delta-pilot state-owned enterprise was created according to the order of the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine dated 04.02.1998 No.29 aimed at improvement of conditions of navigation safety, safety of human life at sea and environmental protection in the territorial waters of Ukraine in compliance with the requirements of the international agreements and conventions, ordering of the maritime pilotage service structure in the north west area of the Black sea. To fulfill the state assignments of the SE «Delta — pilot» work on marine pilotage has been optimized within a short period of time, two regional systems of vessel traffic service have been introduced, appropriate maintenance and technical modernization of the sea routes for general usage have been arranged.