The water level in the Rhine at Kaub in Germany, between Koblenz and Mainz, is dropping so low that many cargo ships will no longer be able to sail there from Friday. That is a problem for the industry.
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The Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG), an official waterway research agency in Germany, does not rule out further restrictions on shipping. The water level would continue to fall until early next week, says BfG expert Bastian Klein.
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In any case, the low water level would not be resolved any time soon. Normally, the Rhine is at its lowest after the summer. At the end of October 2018, 25 centimeters were measured in Kaub. At the moment, the water there is sinking to 30 centimeters.
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Crucial goods and raw materials
Ships carry vital goods and raw materials along the Rhine, which flows past some of Europe’s most important industrial areas. Chemicals company BASF and steel group Thyssenkrupp, among others, rely on the river to supply their factories with fuel and raw materials.
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Transport by road or rail is considerably more expensive, but at low tide some ships can only be partially loaded. At a certain point it will no longer be profitable to sail.
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Energy scarcity
Last week, the German energy group Uniper had already warned that an important coal-fired power plant near Frankfurt can hardly be supplied via the Rhine. This can lead to energy shortages.
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