Low water on the Rhine: Economic effects and challenges
Falling water levels on the Middle Rhine are affecting inland shipping and leading to rising transport costs.
Quick Look
- Low water levels on the Rhine, especially near Kaub, significantly hinder inland shipping.
- Experts warn of immense economic damage as freight ships can only sail to a limited extent, which increases transport costs and puts pressure on consumer prices.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Middle Rhine between St. Goar and Mainz is a central bottleneck for German inland shipping. In 2018, low water caused economic damage of around 2.4 billion euros.
If the water level at Kaub in Rhineland-Palatinate falls below 40 centimeters, economically viable inland shipping would no longer be possible, said Rabold. The section on the Middle Rhine between St. Goar and Mainz is considered a central bottleneck on the important German waterway.
A water level is a relative water height measured from a specified point. It does not show the actual water depth to the bottom.
The depth of the channel is particularly important for shipping. The fairway is the area in which there are normally certain widths and depths for ship traffic. There are differences depending on the section of the Rhine.
Although the water level in Kaub had recently risen slightly after some rainfall, in the past few days it has again fallen below the previous low, which was measured at 25 centimeters in 2018. This summer it was already in the single digits.
As a result, freight shipping on the Rhine collapsed: freight ships can either no longer sail at all or can only sail empty. This drives up costs, as a spokeswoman for the Rheinhessen Chamber of Industry and Commerce added.
Historical lows were not only measured in Kaub: in Cologne, for example, the water level was recently below the previous low of 69 centimeters from 2018.
How high the economic damage will be this year is still unclear, said Rabold. In the low water year of 2018 it was around 2.4 billion euros. Since then, investments have been made and logistics have been optimized - for example with low-water ships. Improved water level forecasts could also help to plan transport better.
“It remains to be seen whether the damage will exceed that of 2018,” said Rabold. However, it can already be assumed that the economic damage will be “immense”. With a view to climate change, it must also be expected that low water years will occur more frequently. A single measure will not solve the problem. However, deepening the Rhine could help, said Rabold. At the same time, the federal government must invest significantly more in waterways.
The consequences could also last longer for consumers - for example at the petrol pump. “It will take until October before we are back to normal prices,” said Rabold, referring to the effects of the restricted transport.
Open Questions
- How high will the actual economic damage be this year?
- When will investments in waterways be deepened?