Gauge Smederevo: current water level and draft

Danube · km 1116.23

Measurement428cm17:00 · 0 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 Smederevo gauge

On 28/10/2026 at 17:00 the Smederevo gauge read 428 cm, the same as 24 hours earlier. Source: RHMZ.

Gauge Smederevo is on the Danube, at kilometre 1116.23.

Fairway depth and rule of thumb

At RNW 439 cm, the site uses 250 cm fairway depth and a 30 cm margin: Smederevo -219. This is a reference calculation, not a current sounding.

Depth reports: Plovput.

Forecasts and neighbouring gauges

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

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 ›