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Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, when the Black Sea was deemed unsafe, the importance of the Danube as an alternative transport route has grown. The Danube transport route has its pitfalls, which must be mastered according to a tight schedule. Ukrainian Volodymir Yugalenko pulls with all his might on the steel cables of the barges. They are loaded with tons of grain, artificial fertilizer and steel, which are to be shipped downstream from Austria on the Danube. Volodymir works for the Viennese transport company DDSG Logistics Holding, which recruits most of its employees from Ukraine. But the ongoing war in Ukraine and Kiev's new mobilization law could put a stop to this. The contract period is usually three months, followed by a longer break. Volodymir will spend the next three months on the tugboat Ybbs together with six other Ukrainians. Almost all of the crew live with their families in Ismail, a port city on the Ukrainian Danube, which is regularly attacked by the Russian army. The transport of goods on Europe's second longest river has long been neglected. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, when the Black Sea was considered unsafe, the importance of the Danube as an alternative transport route has been undisputed. In terms of costs, energy consumption and freight volume, transporting goods by water is generally more attractive than by road and rail. The disadvantages: it is slower and dependent on weather conditions. Volodymir and his colleagues are also feeling this. The destination of their first leg is the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanţa. According to a tight schedule, they have to overcome obstacles and dangers on the Danube. Reportage (D 2024, 31 min) #danube #blacksea #waterroute Video available until 06/11/2025 Link to the media library: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/115492-... Subscribe to the ARTE YouTube channel: / artede Follow us on social networks: Facebook: / arte.tv Twitter: / artede Instagram: / arte.tv