Measurements related to dredging works on the Bastro Canal, which were supposed to start on Wednesday, according to an agreement between the Romanian and Ukrainian authorities, are still pending in the absence of written consent from Ukraine. Prime Minister Nikolay Chuke said on Wednesday evening that in the absence of approval, “the situation with the Ukrainian side will be clarified.”

Answering a question on Wednesday evening, when the measurements will begin in the Bastro Channel and the Chilia Arm, Chuke said that until now there has been no first permission from Ukraine.

• “There was a tripartite meeting of representatives of the European Commission, the Ukrainian technical side and the Romanian technical side (no – about a week ago). The protocol for the next period was agreed upon.
• From the data reported to me, it appeared that upon agreement with the Ukrainian side and representatives of the European Commission, we will receive a permit for measurements on the Kili branch, on the Ukrainian side, and on the Bastro channel. Now, today, before I left the government, I had no approval data.
• Thus, when the approval comes, the teams will go on the field, if the situation with the Ukrainian side is not clarified,” Chuke said.

• “Romanian ships have been in position since yesterday evening. If approval is received today, measurements can begin immediately. We estimate that all of these measurements will be taken within 10 days, and then interpretation of the data will take about 30 days.
• The Ukrainian side proposed a deadline of March 15. It remains for the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine to appeal to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine with a request to allow ships under the Romanian flag to enter the Ukrainian area of ​​the Kiliy Arm in order to start measurements.
• Our ships have been in position since last night and are waiting in the first measurement area. If we get written approval today, I can start measuring right away. We should get approval today, if not we’ll see tomorrow.
• The Ministry of Transport of Romania made an official request to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, but given the state of war, all approvals also go to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which is a normal phenomenon in a wartime situation. The Ministry of Defense has a procedure, it checks whether there are danger zones and elements that could create a dangerous condition for the ships, given that the ships are ours.
• We are not talking about a surprise. We have accepted the deadline of March 15, given that their procedural rationale appears to be well-founded. It must be taken into account that this is a war situation.” government sources said on Wednesday.

The March 15 date for the start of measurements on the Bastro channel and the Chilean branch was set by mutual agreement between the Romanian and Ukrainian authorities 9 days ago, and then confirmed at a meeting with Ukraine, in which representatives of the European Commission also took part.

The results of the first measurements made by Romania after the dredging of the Bastro Canal

The first measurements carried out by the authorities in the territorial waters of Romania after the dredging of the Bastroe Canal confirm that the flows have not changed compared to the statistical flows for the last 10-20 years in the area, but for the general conclusion Measurements are also needed by the Ukrainian side, for which written consent is expected, according to Environment Minister Tanchos Barna.

Last week, he presented the government with the first results of measurements carried out by the Romanian authorities after the dredging of the Bastroe Canal, saying that the biodiversity in the Danube Delta has not been affected by the work so far.

• “In recent weeks, colleagues from ANAR and ARBDD conducted the first measurements, which were completed last week, regarding the flow of the Danube in Kilia and in areas where we have access to the territorial waters of Romania and where we can go to other banks of the Danube with the consent of Ukrainian partners and neighbors.
• These measurements confirm that flows have not changed compared to statistical flows over the past 10-20 years in the area. It also confirms that there are no significant changes caused by dredging on the 14 cross-sections, but it should be emphasized that these measurements cover 14 cross-sections with a length of almost 100 kilometers,” the minister said.

At the same time, he emphasized that measurements in the territorial waters of Ukraine are also needed for a general conclusion.

Ukraine has suggested that it will stop any form of dredging in Chile and Bastro until the situation is resolved

On March 7, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Yonel Skriostianu announced after a meeting regarding the Bastro Canal that the Ukrainian side had undertaken to stop any dredging work until the situation was clarified.

• “The good news is that Ukraine has assumed that it will stop any form of dredging in Chili and Bastro, and we have determined together with the delegation of the European Commission that from now on the main activity will be focused on the consolidation of the Sulin Canal, investments in the Sulin Canal, in order to increase the transit capacity to receive all vessels that are on the maritime Danube cluster. (…) Ukraine assumed that it would stop any form of dredging, be it operational, maintenance or any other form,” Ionel Skriostianu said at the time.