All ferry lines operating on the Danube River between Bulgaria and Romania have been temporarily suspended due to various reasons. This situation completely halts ferry transport for river crossings between the two countries, requiring passengers to opt for road alternatives. Specifically, the Oryahovo–Bechet and Svishtov–Zimnicea lines have ceased operations due to low water levels, while the Silistra–Călăraşi line has suspended services due to a disruption during riverbed work.
Why Have Danube River Ferry Services Been Suspended?
According to statements from the Bulgarian Border Police, all three main ferry lines on the Danube River are currently out of service. Ferry operations at the Oryahovo–Bechet and Svishtov–Zimnicea border crossings have been temporarily suspended due to critically low water levels in the riverbed. This situation prevents river ferries from safely docking and loading. For more information about Danube River Ferries, please visit our Danube River Ferries page.
On the other hand, the reason for the suspension on the Silistra–Călăraşi line is different. On this route, an excavator became stuck in the river during riverbed deepening work aimed at improving docking conditions for ferry platforms. Efforts to retrieve the machine are ongoing, and services on this line have also been paused. The Border Police stated that traffic at all other Bulgarian border crossing points, excluding the ferry lines, is proceeding normally.
Why Are Water Levels Crucial for River Ferries?
Vehicle ferries operating on large rivers like the Danube dock at riverside ramps to load vehicles and passengers. When the water level in the river drops below a certain threshold, ferries cannot approach the ramps sufficiently or risk getting stuck on the riverbed under the weight of a loaded vehicle. Therefore, low water levels pose as significant a constraint for river ferries as severe storms do for sea routes. For ferry travel guides in Europe, you can check out our article Ferry Travel Abroad: A Guide to Europe's Ferry Countries (2026).
A Similar Situation in Europe: The Rhine River
This week, Europe has seen a second example of a river ferry line suspending services due to low water levels. The St. Alban ferry, operating in Basel, Switzerland, had also suspended its services due to falling water levels in the Rhine River. You can find the detailed announcement on this matter by searching for 'St. Alban ferry suspended in Basel'. For all current ferry announcements, please visit our Announcements page.
Important Information for Travelers Planning Their Journey
- Passengers planning to cross between Bulgaria and Romania by vehicle should opt for road crossings such as the Ruse–Giurgiu Friendship Bridge or the Vidin–Calafat Bridge instead of the ferry lines.
- An official date for when ferry services will resume has not yet been announced. The restart of services will depend on the rise of water levels in the Danube River and the completion of the excavator retrieval operations in Silistra.
- It is recommended that those traveling from Turkey to Europe by road temporarily exclude these ferry lines from their route plans.
- If you wish to learn about alternative domestic ferry services, you can refer to our guide Elazığ–Malatya–Tunceli Ferry Transport 2026.
- If you are considering using ferries for your international travels, you can also check out our other guides, such as How to Get to Crete from Turkey by Ferry? 2026 Guide.