The merchant fleet as an instrument of national policy: the development of Romanian shipping in the late 19th - early 20th century

The aim of the research is to analyze the emergence and development of the Romanian Society of River Navigation, which existed on the threshold of the 19th and 20th centuries. Considerable attention in the work is given to the growing role of the Danube throughout the 19th century and its special significance in the fate of the Danubian principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia), which were struggling for national independence. It should be noted that the status of the Danube underwent significant changes after the events of the Crimean War of 1853–1855 and reached "pan-European significance." This inevitably affected the socio-economic development of the Danubian principalities, which found themselves involved in the European market and occupying a certain niche within it. The Russian factor became largely decisive in the struggle of Moldavia and Wallachia for independence, but the principalities quickly fell into economic dependence on other European states. After gaining independence, the issue of developing a national shipping industry and creating a commercial fleet became one of the strategic demands of the national policy of the young state of Romania. This research applies a historical-descriptive method, allowing for a comprehensive disclosure of the process of formation and development of the Romanian commercial fleet. In particular, the use of statistical data allows for a discussion of the successes achieved in the activities of the Romanian Society of River Navigation. The scientific novelty of the research is associated with the involvement of a diverse array of sources (statistical data, diplomatic correspondence, periodicals), as well as previously unpublished archival materials from the fund of the Russian Danube Shipping Company, which testify to the great attention and interest in the activities of the Romanian Society of River Navigation from the side of Russia. Analyzing these sources allows for not only addressing factual information but also establishing the role of the commercial fleet in Romania's economy and politics. The author determined that throughout the entire existence of the Society of River Navigation, the Romanian government took an active part in its activities. In addition to providing budgetary funds, Romania pursued an active protectionist policy, which significantly expanded the capabilities of the commercial fleet and successfully competed with other shipping companies engaged in transporting cargo and passengers along the Danube. Thus, the vessels of the Romanian Shipping Society occupied first place (79.14%) in the number of calls to their own ports on the Danube.