KIEV, UKRAINE — On March 3, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine announced the opening of navigation on navigable hydraulic structures and inland waterways of the Dnipro River in Ukraine. This is much earlier than usual. Last year’s season started at the end of March, NIBULON noted on March 11.

According to the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelyan, the appropriate order was given by the State Inspection of Ukraine on Safety at Sea and River Transport, as business representatives appealed to open navigation season earlier in order to start cargo flow.

NIBULON said its own cargo fleet has joined in the navigation process immediately. NIBULON-2 tug and two NBL-021 and NBL-023 barges are bound for the Vitove branch. The tugs have all the required equipment and food to operate without interruption in the 2015 navigation season. Soon NIBULON-1 tug with two barges and NIBULON-5 tug will operate on the Dnipro River, the company said.

During the last navigation season, NIBULON’s cargo fleet shipped more than 2.5 million tonnes of grain along the Dnipro River. As the fleet is developed and new vessels are constructed at NIBULON’s shipbuilding and repair yard, the company plans to bring the annual transportation volume up to 3 million tonnes.