The Rhine could soon become unnavigable along its entire course in Germany and could be split in two, warned the German Inland Navigation Federation (BDB) on Monday. The river is already at unprecedented low levels due to lack of precipitation.
„The water levels’ trend does not bode well,” said Jens Schwanen, CEO of BDB, as quoted by AFP in an interview with the Rheinische Post newspaper.
According to him, the lack of rain is causing the water level at Kaub, in Rhineland-Palatinate, between Koblenz and Mainz (west), a crucial reference point for navigation and the economy, to drop below 10 centimeters for the first time this week. At such water levels, the Rhine "will no longer be continuously navigable and will be divided in two," hindering continuity in this region for both commercial freight transport and recreational boats, explained Jens Schwanen.
On Monday morning, the reference level at Kaub was 17 cm, corresponding to a navigable channel depth of 130 cm, according to the local measuring station. The previous reference minimum at Kaub dates back to 2018, when 25 cm were recorded, according to the Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV).
Inland waterway traffic will remain possible between the ARA ports (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp) and North Rhine-Westphalia up to the vicinity of Cologne, on the Rhine and through the canal network in western Germany, according to Jens Schwanen.
Further south, navigation will be able to continue on tributaries such as the Neckar, Mosel, Main, and the Main-Danube Canal.
Due to a chronic lack of precipitation combined with intense heatwaves, several waterways in Germany have experienced unprecedented low levels in recent days, phenomena exacerbated by climate change. Record lows were recorded on the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia this past weekend.
These low water levels mean that cargo ships can only load a fraction of their usual cargo. Carriers must increase the frequency of trips, significantly raising logistical costs.
German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger mentioned last Thursday the possibility of temporarily lifting the ban on truck traffic on Sundays and holidays to transfer a larger quantity of goods by road. Federal states such as Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate have already implemented this measure.