The July 2007 drop in Danube river levels has caused problems for ships, and cut the volume of handling operations at the Port of Lom, said Port Complex CEO Borislav Mihov.

Low water level had caused problems only at one of Lom's piers, Mihov said as quoted by BTA Bulgarian news agency.

Lom, Bulgaria's second largest port on the Danube, handled 110 000 tons of freight in July 2007, which is a decrease of 30 to 40 per cent from previous months. But 870 000 tons of freight has been handled so far this year, which is a 15 per cent year-on-year increase.

Rapids at Belene and Svishtov also pose obstacles for ships from the Ukraine that dock at Lom for unloading.

On July 31, the water level dipped down a further seven cm, to 128cm, leaving large strips of cracked land exposed along the banks of the Danube.