The Danube-Black Sea Canal and its impact on Southern Romania

The Romanian Danube-Black Sea Canal, opened in 1984, is the latest development in the European network of Class 6 waterways. Construction began in 1978 and involved the mobilisation of labour and equipment on an unprecedented scale to expedite work in four construction zones between the Danube at Cernavoda and the Black Sea at South Constanta-Agigea. The paper outlines the construction work and also discusses three other themes. First the history of abortive canal projects which extends back for more than a century, including the notorious scheme of 1949–1953 in the Stalin era, which has to be seen in the context of available waterways through the Danube delta and a complex of economic, political and technical issues. Second the interest of the present Romanian government in pressing ahead with the project at a time of severe economic difficulty: the changing economic geography of the country is thoroughly examined. And third the likely impact of the canal which is very difficult to assess in an international context in view of the alternative route through the Danube delta at Sulina. However the hinterland of Constanta has been greatly improved and further canal schemes in Romania will generate more traffic for water transport in the years ahead.