Rhine water level close to record lows, cargo vessels keep sailing
The navigable depth at Kaub is forecast to drop to about 20 cm, and tanker barge rates have risen to around €125 a ton, traders said.
- Falling water levels on the Rhine in Germany are restricting shipping traffic, particularly at the Kaub chokepoint near Karlsruhe, where inland navigation agency WSV forecasts depths will drop from about 35 cm on Monday to around 20 cm on Friday.
- Recent rainfall in southern Germany fell short of expectations, according to WSV, causing the Rhine to recede further as dryness persists throughout the coming days.
- Cargo vessels are sailing at only 15% to 20% capacity, while tanker barge costs from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe have surged to around $136.8 per ton from around $45 at the end of June.
- German industry faces supply bottlenecks and production problems as shipping constraints force companies to spread cargo across multiple partially loaded vessels, creating unwelcome extra expenses for the Rhine-dependent sector currently showing signs of recovery.
- Global warming leads to increasingly frequent low water levels on the Rhine, prompting shipping company Stolt Tankers to build specialized vessels capable of navigating shallow conditions and adapt to climate-driven constraints.
28 Articles
28 Articles
The Rhine has reached its lowest level ever recorded at the place where the river enters the Netherlands, due to the drought in the country and the lack of rain in its neighbours, alerted the Dutch authorities on Thursday. ...
The Rhine reaches record lows at several levels. The main causes are long-lasting drought and lack of snowmelt in the Alps. "The Rhine will be more dependent on the rain," says hydrologist Kerstin Stahl.
Only 22 centimetres left at Koblenz: The water level of the Rhine is approaching record lows. Freight rates have already pushed this to the highest level since the beginning of data collection in 2009.
In England the clay soil is withdrawn, it changes the shape of the ferrata road by slowing down the trains. Problems also in London along the Elizabeth line. On the Rhine in Germany barges travel with just one tenth of the normal load: the prices for each ton moved go to the stars
Algemeen Dagblad
Locks are being used less frequently, shipping routes are being restricted, and ditch water may not be pumped. The consequences of the drought are being felt throughout the country. Special consultations are being held in The Hague on Thursday.
Visible gravel banks, dried up shore areas and side arms without water - the rivers suffer from the lack of rain. The historically low levels hinder the navigation on Danube and Rhine massively.
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