FAST Danube - Technical Assistance for Revising and Complementing the Feasibility Study Regarding the Improvement of Navigation Conditions on the Romanian-Bulgarian Common Sector of the Danube and Complementary Studies
Project identification number:
2014-EU-TMC-0297-S
Funding programme:
Connecting Europe Facility (under Transport CEF Call 2014 for multi-annual projects)
Project duration:
1 November 2014 - 31 December 2020
Project coordinator:
River administration for lower Danube – AFDJ Galati
Project partners:
Romania - River administration for lower Danube – AFDJ Galati
Bulgaria – Executive agency for exploration and maintenance of the Danube river - EAEMDR Ruse
To identify the technical solutions to be implemented, in order to ensure navigation conditions on the Romanian-Bulgarian common sector of the Danube and safely conducting the transport activities on Danube throughout the entire year, in accordance with the recommendations of the Danube Commission in Budapest;
Developing an integrated approach for prevention of the negative influence on the river system and ecology through increased navigation on the Danube river;
Balancing the shares of the different modes of transportation by encouraging the use of inland waterway transport.
Project description:
Activity 1: Feasibility StudyThis activity consists of a set of preparatory studies to determine the current status of the Romanian-Bulgarian common sector of the Danube and the feasibility study elaboration. This activity will include identifying of future works, the time schedule for the implementation of the project, cost estimation and their implementation methodology, in close liaison with legislative requirements on both environmental protection at national and European level;
Activity 2: Environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessmentThe objective of this activity is to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed works which also include the study to determine the impact on Natura 2000 sites in accordance with national and European environmental legislation in force, in order to limit the environmental effects and to propose compensatory measures, if necessary;
Activity 3: Preparing the Public Procurement Procedure for Design and ConstructionThe activity covers the preparation of technical specifications for the procurement of design and execution works that were identified in the feasibility study;
Activity 4: Project Management and CommunicationThis activity includes all duties and responsibilities to effectively coordinate and manage the project. AFDJ Galati, the coordinator of the action, will be responsible for the project management.
Project benefits:
Developing an integrated approach on the Danube by increasing traffic, avoiding any adverse impact on the river and the ecological system;
Improving the waterway infrastructure with a view to develop the river transport on the Romanian-Bulgarian common sector of the Danube (rkm 845.5 to rkm 375);
Supporting sustainable transport, encouraging the use of inland waterways transport.
Actions under the project:
Investigating and developing technical solutions to be included in the feasibility study to ensure stable navigation conditions throughout the year, on the Romanian-Bulgarian common sector of the Danube;
Identification and preliminary design of the necessary works to eliminate the existing difficult points;
Carrying out the Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment for developing the documentation in order to obtain the Environmental Agreement;
Completion of technical specifications for carrying out the works on this sector of the Danube.
Current status of the project:
At the beginning of March 2017 AFDJ signed a contract with the chosen consultant for Revising and Complementing the Feasibility Study Regarding the Improvement of Navigation Conditions on the Romanian-Bulgarian Common Sector of the Danube and Complementary Studies – FAST Danube. At the beginning of April 2017 the field activities survey started. The survey will be implemented in two stages and its duration will be 60 days. The field activities consist in carrying out topographical, hydrological, hydrographic and sediment surveys, as well as developing a mathematical model to test the proposed solutions. The survey also includes LiDAR scanning of the river bed implemented with a plane.
