Danube – A Tribute to the River and Its People 2025

On Monday, 24 November 2025, we hosted the event Danube – A Tribute to the River and Its People on board the ship Harmónia. This exceptional gathering connects the story of the Danube with the stories of the people who live, work, and create along its banks. The event is an expression of respect for the river that shaped the urban development of Bratislava, influenced the routing of its roads, bridges, and promenades, and became a natural center of cultural and social life. At the same time, it serves as an annual remembrance of those who lost their lives while working on the river—on ships, in fishing, or in other activities connected with the Danube. This year again, we honored their memory by symbolically placing wreaths on the river’s surface.

The following letter serves as an expression of thanks and a summary of our cooperation on the event Danube – A Tribute to the River and Its People, held in 2025. We share it as a gesture of appreciation for our partners and for everyone involved in its preparation.

 

Dear Ms. Masariková,

This year’s commemorative event Danube – A Tribute to the River and Its People, including the Remembrance of the Victims of the Danube, turned out truly exceptional. Thank you for your cooperation, even though it is a pity that you could not attend in person. In my texts, in the guest speeches, as well as in Ms. Gregorová’s performance, you were very much present—both as LOD, a. s., and through the ship Harmónia.

I also appreciate the engagement and cooperation of your team. Tomáš Ondrča and colleagues Ms. Gregorová, Ms. Horská, Mr. Hruška, and Ms. Dingová were an invaluable help in preparing the new concept of the event as well as in carrying out the program itself.

In the 20 years of the modern-day tradition of this event, this was the first time we succeeded in bringing together major institutions on the river—such as Verejné prístavy, a. s., SPaP, a. s., the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, the Transport Authority, LOD, a. s., and the Transport Museum—as well as smaller associations, sports clubs, Olympians, international companies like KVANT, and city districts (I personally contacted and informed the mayors of Ružinov, Staré Mesto, and Karlova Ves).

The number and composition of the guests were remarkable as well—directors-general, State Secretary Ms. Žiláková, more than 30 captains, company representatives, and countless guests both on board and along the riverbank.

I trust that this year’s project has also been beneficial for LOD, a. s. I am pleased that we were once again able to bring the Danube project, the significance of the river, the topic of safety, and the beauty of the ship Harmónia into RTVS, TV Markíza, as well as Rádio Vlna and Slovak Radio.