Gauge Novi Sad: current water level and draft

Danube · km 1254.98

Measurement-69cm07:00 · +6 cm/24hRule of thumb—cmDraft—cm

Shallow sections

No depth reports available from Plovput.

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 Novi Sad gauge

Latest reading: On 28/10/2026 at 07:00 the Novi Sad gauge read -69 cm, 6 cm higher than 24 hours earlier. Source: RHMZ.

Gauge Novi Sad is on the Danube at kilometre 1254.98, on the km 1254.98–1216.02 stretch.

Fairway depth and rule of thumb

At RNW 57 cm, the site uses 250 cm fairway depth and a 30 cm margin: Novi Sad +163. This is a reference calculation, not a current sounding. In practice Novi Sad +190 is used here, +27 cm against the official rule.

Depth reports: Plovput.

Forecasts and neighbouring gauges

Water-level forecasts: the 4-day forecast from RHMZ (red). Upstream lies Bačka Palanka, downstream Slankamen.

The Danube in Serbia

RHMZ publishes water levels and forecasts. Plovput publishes shallow-section depths and bridge clearances.

Rules of thumb per gauge and port ›