Rumania is by far the most important riparian state on the Danube, extending from km 1075 to the Black Sea. It is second only to Germany in tonnage carried (4M tonnes p.a.), followed closely by Hungary. The river forms the border with Serbia down to km 845.65, then with Bulgaria down to km 374.10. From km 134.14 to 79.17 the left bank is occupied by Moldavia over 1km and Ukraine for 54km. The Rumanian and Bulgarian Governments have planned improvements to secure better navigable conditions for inland shipping. Recreational boating is slow to develop, and visiting boats report that conditions remain difficult in this recovering country. Built between 1975 and 1984, the Danube-Black Sea canal links the Danube (south of the town of Cernavoda) with the Black Sea (at Agigea - Constanta South) and shortens the shipping route to Constanta by about 400 km.…