Gauge Budafok: current water level and draft

Danube · km 1636.93

Measurement-36cm17:00 · +7 cm/24hRule of thumb—cmDraft—cm

Shallow sections

No depth reports available from Hydroinfo (OVF).

Notes

Water depth is not draught. Platform Zero Incidents cites a safety margin of 20–40 cm based on German case law, depending on the riverbed, vessel type and good seamanship. This is not a fixed legal minimum. Under-keel clearance is the space between the vessel and the bed. Dynamic squat while underway reduces that space. Viadonau gives 20–40 cm as a guide for squat. Meeting and overtaking can increase it further; MARIN describes an overtaking manoeuvre with more than 70 cm of squat. Sources: Platform Zero Incidents, CCR, German court ruling, viadonau, MARIN

Water level at the Budafok gauge

On 28/10/2026 at 17:00 the Budafok gauge read -36 cm, 7 cm higher than 24 hours earlier. Source: PannonRIS (RSOE / OVF).

Gauge Budafok is on the Danube, at kilometre 1636.93.

Fairway depth and rule of thumb

At RNW 26 cm, the site uses 250 cm fairway depth and a 30 cm margin: Budafok +194. This is a reference calculation, not a current sounding.

Depth reports: Hydroinfo (OVF).

Forecasts and neighbouring gauges

Upstream lies Kvassay zsilip, downstream Ercsi.

The Danube in Hungary

Water levels from PannonRIS and Hydroinfo (OVF). Hydroinfo also provides forecasts and shallow-section reports.

Rules of thumb per gauge and port ›