On December 3, USPA officially raised the Ukrainian flag on the second USAID-provided pilot boat, Lotsman Bolotin, symbolizing that the boat is now fully operational and ready to support seafaring operations on the Danube River. The boat will transport maritime pilots between land and inbound or outbound ships, improving logistical efficiency of cargo processing and exports.
The new USAID-provided boat will replace the outdated pilot boat, Aldebaran, to transport maritime pilots 16% faster to arriving and departing export vessels, ultimately reducing delays, and increasing agricultural export turnover. The second pilot boat is named after Pilot Borys Bolotin (1940-2019), who dedicated his life to maritime shipping and served for over 46 years on the Danube with Delta Lotsman.
Background: Assistance to agricultural producers and infrastructure companies is part of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to help Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, transport, and export grain.