Banks protection on the Sulina Canal

NEED AND ADDED VALUE FOR DANUBE REGION STRATEGY: Banks protection on the Sulina Canal is one of the important investment projects concerning the maritime sector of the Danube River. The Sulina Canal is a component of the Pan-European Transport Corridor VII, connecting the Danube with the Black Sea on Romanian territory. The protection works for both banks of the Sulina Canal against damages caused by navigation of high-capacity maritime vessels and the protection of the Danube Delta area have been executed in several stages. The objectives of the works executed or planned to be executed are: - Stopping the massive bank erosion of the Sulina Canal. - Keeping under control the water flow in the Sulina Canal. - Decreasing the amount of sediments passing through the Sulina Canal to the sea. - Decreasing the risk of flooding for human settlements and economic operations located along the Sulina Canal as well as of polluting the Danube Delta. OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE PROJECT: Consolidation of banks in order to ensure the safety of transport on the canal. PLANNED PROJECT ACTIVITIES: During the period 1986-2004, 35.944 km of bank protection works on both banks of the Sulina Canal were completed, funding was provided from the state budget. The present project started in 2004 and had several components: - Rostock wreck removal from the Sulina Channel. - Hydrographic survey system. - Signalling system on the Danube. - Bank protection works on Sulina Channel. - 15 km of bank protection works were completed under this project; these works were contracted in May 2008 for 24.64 million EUR, date of completion: July 2013. Funding was provided as follows: 50% EIB and 50% state budget. - The new feasibility study elaborated in 2016, identified other 36.7 km of banks that need to be protected in a new project phase. TRANSBOUNDARY IMPACT: This sector of the Danube is used for navigation by vessels flying all kinds of flags. Through the Sulina Canal goods are transported from many European and Asian countries. PROJECT BENEFICIARIES / TARGET GROUPS: - Shipping companies. - Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. - Inhabitants living in the Danube Delta.

The project co-financed by the European Investment Bank for the first 15 km of bank protection is delayed due to the contractor’s cash-flow problems. The planned date of completion was 26 January 2011. The last updated work schedule submitted by the contractor shows that the main works will be finished at the end of December 2011 and the entire contract will be closed in March 2012. 35 km of banks protection works are already completed • 15 km of banks protection works are ongoing; these works are budgeted at about 24.64 million EUR, planned date of completion: December 2011, funding is provided as follows: 50% EIB and 50% state budget • For the remaining 50 km a feasibility study regarding banks protection will be necessary in order to complete the works on the entire Sulina Canal

Implementation of this project will result in: • Stopping the massive bank erosion of the Sulina Canal • Keeping under control the water flow in the Sulina Canal • Decreasing the amount of sediments passing through the Sulina Canal to the sea • Decreasing the risk of flooding for human settlements and economic operations located along the Sulina Canal as well as of polluting the Danube Delta