River logistics amid war and post-war recovery in Ukraine: current situation and prospects

Relevance in the research topic. Recovery of Ukraine, overcoming consequences of hostilities on its territory, national security and defense capability issues solution are relevant today. Therefore, it is possible to solve logistical and infrastructure problems precisely by inland water transport and its infrastructure modernization, expanded network of river ports and higher efficiency of their facilities, encouragement of private investments attraction, and inducement of inland water transport development. Problem statement. There is a need to build logistics management system for navigable inland waterways in the South of Ukraine, namely the "Danube - Black Sea" (Bystre rivermouth) to expand the use of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaysk ports. Analysis of recent research and publications. Key publication analysis reveal that river logistics development issues are considered by many researchers. So research works of Krčum, M., Plazibat V., Gorana J. M., Wójcikiewicza R., Kaupb M., Nowakowski T., Kulczyk J., Skupień E. & Tubis A., Kolář J. & Stopka, O., Krile S. are focused on certain national problem-solving. For example: the Croatian transport system and the ways of sea and river ports integration, peculiarities of inland water transport in Szczecin (Poland), determinants of Lower Vistula river ports transformation, the location of port`s multimodal logistics center at the Labe River (Elbe), the development of inland water transport market, as well as the strengthening of European cooperation in the field of inland water transport, etc. Unsolved parts of the general problem. Taking into account the importance of shipping revival at the Danube River for Ukraine, it is advisable to study the waterways and the possibilities to increase Izmail, Reni and Ust-Dunaysk seaports efficiency. Study task and objective. The following scientific tasks will be solved aimed at their practical implementation: current position and dynamics analysis of Izmail port development; predictive modelling of opportunities and conditions for its performance improvement while solving war transport problems and in the context of post-war recovery of Ukraine. Research method and methodology. While doing the research, general scientific (analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, group analysis) and special (abstraction, modelling, etc.) methods of studying economic phenomena and processes have been used. The main material (study results). Ukraine belongs to the largest European countries with a strong potential for the development of inland waterways and river transport. Nevertheless the industry of river freight and passenger transportation has been gradually deteriorating its performance for more than twenty years. When the war started and the maritime territory was occupied, significant amount of the country's infrastructure (roads, bridges, railways) was destroyed, the river transport supported transport logistics needs not only of Ukraine, but also of other countries. Intensification of the Danube (Bystre rivermouth) navigation and of Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaysk sea ports activity played an important role in this. Analysis of SE "Izmail Commercial Sea Port" performance revealed lower port's efficiency during recent years. Significant positive changes took place in 2022. The cargo handling volume of Izmail port in 2021 was 3.84 million tons, and in 2022 - 8.89 million tons. Thus, according to 2022 results, Izmail port exceeded 2021 indicators by 218%. The total cargo handling volume of Izmail sea port in February 2023 was 1 million 345 thousand tons, i.e. 24% more than in January 2023. Today Izmail Port exceeds the plan by 274%. The dredging works in Izmail and Reni ports contributed to a significant improvement in the Danube region ports indicators. A forecast was made based on the Izmail sea port activity data regarding its main activity indicators until 2026. Positive indicators obtained in 2022 have been taken into account when forecasting port`s performance indicators. As for the further increase in cargo turnover of SE "Izmail Commercial Sea Port", it will be facilitated by the planned feeder container ship work (March 2023), started from the end of 2022 between the Romanian Port Constanța and the Ukrainian Reni port. The service of feeder container ship work based on SE "Izmail Commercial Sea Port" and Port Constanța facilities will receive Arkas, ZIM, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, SMA and others lines containers. The containers will follow in the transshipment mode, that is, there will be no need to issue transit customs documents at Port Constanța. Conclusions. The study shows that Ukraine, which has a strong potential for inland waterways and river transport development has recently not been used it enough. As a result, the river freight and passenger transport industry has gradually deteriorated its performance. It has been proven that amid war in 2022, the Danube ports performance indicators have been significantly improved. The last induced cargo transportation when exploitation of a number of Ukrainian ports was made impossible. The case of current position and efficiency analysis of SE "Izmail Commercial Sea Port" proved the possibility to improve its performance indicators. According to the results of its activitys forecast modelling until 2026, the expected volume of freight transportation and the structure of the freight flow have been determined. Reasonable expediency and effectiveness of feeder container ship work en route SE "Izmail Commercial Sea Port" - Port Constanța.