The Rhine level at Kaub is likely to continue to drop – and cause major problems for inland shipping. However, large industries alone are dependent on the waterway.
According to the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), low water levels, particularly on the Rhine, which is very important for inland shipping, are driving up freight prices massively. “Shipping space has now become scarce, because ships can often only be partially loaded,” said Ilja Nothnagel, member of the DIHK main management, the editorial network Germany (RND). “As a result, freight prices have already risen significantly.”
Nothnagel emphasized that several industries are dependent on inland shipping, above all the chemical industry, the steel industry and currently coal-fired power plants in particular. “The low water levels show the urgent need to quickly implement structural measures to improve the fairways and renew the fleet.”
A gauge that is very important for shipping on the Rhine is at a bottleneck near Kaub in the Middle Rhine Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV), it was 37 centimeters on Sunday morning and thus at the level of Saturday noon. According to the agency’s forecast, the value could drop to 30 centimeters on Monday. The water level does not show the actual water depth, but the difference between the water surface and the so-called zero level. Which in turn is not at the deepest point of the river bed. Current WSV values for the fairway depth at Kaub for Sunday were not available. On Friday, the channel depth was 1.54 meters at a level of 42 centimeters at the time.
Water and shipping administration values for water gauges and shipping lanes Water and shipping administration values for Kaub gauges
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
