OREANDA-NEWS. February 8, 2008. In January 2008, the ports of Azov-and-Don Basin decreased cargo handling 1.5 times, year-on-year, to 398,000 tonnes. A source in Azov-and-Don Basin Department  attributed the decrease to unfavorable ice conditions in the Basin throughout January. Besides, introduction of duties for export of grain and introduction of age limit for vessel over 30-y.o. contributed to the decrease.

The Department’s are of responsibility covers the Don-river from Tsimlyanskoye water storage basin to the Sea of Azov (excluding Konstantinovski and Nikolayevski hydrosystems) with the tributaries, as well as Azov-and-Don canal. Total length of the waterways is 800 kilometers.