The ongoing drought is leading to historic lows at important measuring stations along the Rhine.
AI-generated summary
The low water level of the Rhine has been affecting inland shipping for months due to necessary cargo restrictions. According to experts, a lasting easing of the situation is currently not foreseeable.
The low water level in the Rhine, which has been prevailing for weeks, has reached a record low. At the “eye of the needle” in Kaub near Mainz, which is important for shipping, the water level fell to 2 centimeters - that is 5 centimeters below the previous low on August 17th, according to data from the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA). “The situation remains tense,” said a spokesman.
Historical lows are also expected at some measuring stations in North Rhine-Westphalia in the next few days. According to the forecast, the water level in Düsseldorf is expected to slip back into negative territory on Saturday and fall below the August value of minus 1 centimeter. Duisburg-Ruhrort could also fall below the previous low of 129 centimeters on Saturday.
The shipping channel for ships continues to narrow
In Cologne the water level was 49 centimeters on Friday. The previous record low of 45 centimeters could be reached again on Monday. The water levels of the Rhine at the various measuring stations cannot be directly compared with one another because there is no uniform zero point for all of them.
The low water has been causing problems for shipping for months. Cargo ships can only sail with significantly reduced cargo. “The available channel depth remains limited and will therefore continue to reduce as water levels develop,” said the WSA spokesman.
Sustainable relaxation is not in sight
According to the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), there is still no lasting improvement in the low water situation in sight. Precipitation forecast for the first week of October could possibly provide some temporary relief.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Falling below the previous low in Düsseldorf and Cologne at the weekend.
Likely · Within days
The water level of the Rhine at the Kaub bottleneck has temporarily fallen to a low of two centimeters. The historic low water is affecting shipping and leading to supply chain problems and falling industrial production, according to economists.
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