Shipping on Danube Paralysed

At least four Balkan nations have suspended shipping on the Danube River because of severe frost and the vast amount of ice blocking the heavily travelled waterway

Freezing conditions paralyze Danube River shipping

By VESELIN TOSHKOV

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) – At least four Balkan nations have suspended shipping on the Danube River because of severe frost and the vast amount of ice blocking the heavily traveled waterway.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Serbia made the decision because up to 90 percent of the river’s surface is covered with floating ice, authorities said Wednesday.

AP video shows an icebreaker slicing through a section of the Danube in Romania. The boat struggled to leave shore at first and its crew used a long metal pole and vigorous steering maneuvers to pry it free. As the boat cut…….[access full article]