In 2010, the fairway conditions in the free-flowing stretches of the Austrian Danube (Wachau and east of Vienna) slightly exceeded the long-time statistical average.

From March to September, fairway conditions were generally very good, whereby the water levels at the Wildungsmauer water gauge (the reference water gauge for the section east of Vienna) exceeded average water level (AWL) on nearly 50% of the days.

As in 2009, the months of January and February were characterised by low water levels, however in 2010 the average daily water levels at Wildungsmauer exceeded those of 2009 by 2.4 dm. In 2010, the water levels of the Danube were below low navigable water level (LNWL 96) on 16 days in these two months, compared to a total of 39 days in 2009.

The comparison of the generally low water levels of the Danube in the months of October to December in 2010 and 2009 reveals that the average daily water levels at the Wildungsmauer reference gauge were on average slightly above 220 cm in both years (2009: 222 cm; 2010: 225 cm).

Over the whole of 2010, the average monthly load factor of cargo vessels was 64.2%, which is significantly higher than in the previous years (2009: 60.0%; 2008: 61.3%). The load factors recorded for 2010 ranged between 56.7% in February and 70.5% in August. Data collected for 2010 with regard to the average load factor for cargo vessels reflects the Danube's low discharge in January and February as well as in October and November. During these months, the load factor on average ran to slightly less than 59% (2009: 55%).

In inland waterway transport, the available fairway depths determine the draught loaded of a vessel and hence the possible loading quantity. When loading their vessels, vessel operators sometimes have to estimate fairway conditions for the individual sections of a river several days before actually passing a critical section. This is done by assessing the development of water levels at so-called gauges of reference. The Wildungsmauer water gauge shown in the charts is the decisive indicator for the fairway conditions in the free-flowing stretch of the Austrian Danube between Vienna and Bratislava.

Fairway conditions and the load factor of vessels are directly related to each other. The general rule is that if relatively high draughts loaded are possible, the average load factor of vessels increases and vessel operators require fewer trips to transport the same volume of goods. These correlations become very clear when comparing the two charts for 2009 and 2010.

Larger cargo volumes per vessel or convoy increase the ratio of freight revenues and costs, which in turn improves the competitive position of Danube navigation. This again makes navigation as a transport mode more attractive to the manufacturing industry and increases the overall volume or goods carried on the Austrian Danube.