January 23 (SeeNews) - Croatian shipping company Dunavski Lloyd Sisak has suffered losses of 1.2 million kuna ($171,400/159,800 euro) due to harsh winter weather conditions which have wreaked havoc across the Balkans, local media reported.
Dunavski Lloyd's losses are only set to increase as sub-freezing temperatures persist, news portal Poslovni.hr reported over the weekend.
Last week as many as 25 company ships and barges were immobilised on rivers Sava and Danube by ice piling on the waterways. Over the weekend the company managed to free some of its ships but these still haven't been put to use as most river ports remain closed.
"Our vessels are currently located in Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary on the Danube, and in Croatia on the Sava river. Due to very low water levels, which were similar to a dry summer season, our fleet had difficulties in carrying out its operations in December, but now it is completely blocked", Poslovni.hr quoted the company's director, Hrvoje Pavlak, as saying.
Similar conditions have not been since winter 2011/2012, Pavlak said, adding that relief is not expected soon.
Dunavski Lloyd, founded in 1952, carries some 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year. The fleet consists of 14 motor ships and 28 auxiliary barges and vessels.
(1 euro=7.50793 kuna)