A rusted shopping cart is seen on a sandbank in the Rhine exposed by the low tide in Bonn, Germany, August 16, 2022. REUTERS/Benjamin Westhoff
By Jack Wittels (Bloomberg) –The Rhine River’s water level at a key waypoint is set to decline in the coming days, curbing the amount of cargo that barges can carry.
The measured level at Kaub, which lies west of Frankfurt, is forecast to fall to as low as 71 centimeters (28 inches) early Monday, according to German government data. At 40 centimeters or below, it becomes uneconomical for many barges to haul cargo through this part of the river.
Snaking roughly 800 miles from Switzerland to the North Sea, the Rhine is used to ship millions of tons of vital commodities through inland Europe, including coal, oil products and iron ore, as well as goods in containers.
The water at Kaub recently fell as low as 30 centimeters, before jumping to 128 centimeters earlier this week. The level is not the actual depth of the river, but rather a measure used to calculate navigability for vessels.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,251 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
Cargo volume on Russia’s main Arctic shipping lane continues to climb, although figures remain below the targets originally defined by President Putin earlier in the decade. Western sanctions have delayed or put on hold a number of oil and gas projects negatively impacting overall cargo volume.
The container shipping industry dodged a potential overcapacity crisis in 2024, thanks to an unexpected savior: the Red Sea crisis that forced vessels to take longer routes around Africa’s Cape...
A collision between two bulk carriers in China’s Changjiang River has resulted in a fuel oil spill and hull damage. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10 p.m. Singapore time...
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,251 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
