European Commission of the Danube

With the advent of steam the importance of the River Danube as a main trade artery between Central Europe and the East grew, however there were two major obstacles: navigation was inherently dangerous in places and there was considerable political obstruction. For trade to grow and navigational conditions to improve, an international agency was required to administer the navigation of the Danube in the interests of all countries. This is a broad theory behind certain Commissions of the Danube. The reality of course is far more complex and rarely were the interests of all nations fully represented. The company owned and operated her own fleet of dredgersvand auxilliary equipment.
A new organisation with the same name was foundedin 1948 and is still operational, focussing on all aspects of the Dunabe.