Frozen River Danube costing shippers millions

Published : February 12, 2012 :: 12:02:11 [ 1,134 views ]

BUCHAREST, Romania — Shippers say they are losing millions in trade because a lengthy stretch of the River Danube in Europe is stuck in the longest freeze in its recent history.

The Danube flows through nine countries. It began to ice over in early February as temperatures plunged to minus 20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit).

The Romanian Transportation Ministry says shipping was halted for some 700 kilometers (440 miles) on Friday, and six river crossings were closed in Romania due to the ice.

Costache Constanin, manager of Europolis Shipping & Trading, told The Associated Press that the freeze was costing shipping companies millions of euros (dollars).

He says “the transportation of raw materials, coal, minerals, cereals … are all affected.”

Report by : AP