The Rhine is an important lifeline for the economy. Last year, 200 million tons of goods and raw materials were transported via the Rhine. It concerns coal and gas, especially now so important, and also ores, agricultural products, grains, containers.
Now that the water is so low, ships can carry much less cargo. “Inland skippers can sometimes only sail with a capacity of 25 percent,” says transport economist Christa Sys.
This is problematic for factories and power plants that depend on inland shipping for their supplies. If the transport on the Rhine disappears, it will be felt in Germany, but also with us.
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