Gauge Svishtov: current water level and draft

Danube · km 554.3

Measurement-86cm06:00 · 0 cm/24hRule of thumb—cmDraft—cm

Shallow sections

No depth reports available from APPD.

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 Svishtov gauge

Latest reading: On 28/10/2026 at 06:00 the Svishtov gauge read -86 cm, the same as 24 hours earlier. Source: APPD.

Gauge Svishtov is on the Danube, at kilometre 554.3.

Fairway depth and rule of thumb

At RNW 76 cm, the site uses 250 cm fairway depth and a 30 cm margin: Svishtov +144. This is a reference calculation, not a current sounding.

Depth reports: APPD.

Forecasts and neighbouring gauges

Water-level forecasts: the 6-day forecast from APPD (red). Upstream lies Turnu Măgurele, downstream Zimnicea.

The Danube in Bulgaria

APPD (EAEMDR) publishes water levels, forecasts and depths for the Bulgarian Danube.
Rules of thumb per gauge and port ›