Navrom is doing better than other companies in the field, as only one ship in 10 of other companies is working at this time, according to market players. The reasons are a sharp decline in orders and the reduced operations of ArcelorMittal Galati steel plant, one of the main clients of ship owners locally, according to the CEO of the Romanian Ship Owners Association (AAOPF), Leonard Cotiga.
“We are working at 10 percent of our transportation capacity because we no longer have orders, materials are no longer in demand, and ports are at a virtual standstill. Transportation was largely connected to Arcelor, but since it has stopped production, nothing is happening,” he added.
According to Cotiga, the sharpest decline was registered for construction materials. Furthermore, there is no longer any demand for transportation of limestone, coal, iron ore, gravel, and cement.
Fifty percent of Navrom’s 417 ships are operating at present. “The river fleet is facing collapse. At Navrom, we are using half of our transportation capacity because we are involved in transit transportation, including grain transportation on the Danube from Hungary to Constanta [port], according to the company’s Manager, Constantin Hartan, who is also President of AAOPF.
