By Elisa Miebach (Bloomberg) --Two shipping brothers on Germany’s Rhine faced a dilemma that has become increasingly common on Europe’s most important river. With the waters precariously low, Stephen and Torsten Mnich fretted over whether to haul 1,000 tons of potassium salt to a BASF SE chemical plant upriver — a lucrative assignment for the family business. If the level … [Read more...]
Europe’s Rhine River Faces Low Water Heading into Dry Season
By Jack Wittels and William Wilkes (Bloomberg) --Germany’s Rhine River is entering dry summer months with water levels at their lowest in two decades, prompting fears of shipping disruption on Europe’s most important inland waterway. After spring showers failed to show in Germany, the official water level at Kaub — a key chokepoint near Frankfurt — dropped to around 1 meter … [Read more...]
Rhine River Risks Repeat of Last Year’s Historic Shutdown
By William Wilkes, Bill Lehane and Vanessa Dezem (Bloomberg) --The bustling boat traffic on Europe’s Rhine river ground to a halt for the first time in living memory last year, as shrinking alpine glaciers and severe drought made the key transport artery impassable. Those historic conditions could be repeated in a few weeks. With little rainfall recently, water levels at … [Read more...]
Rhine River Could Run Too Low Again for Shipping in Germany
By William Wilkes (Bloomberg) -- Go inside the global economy with Stephanie Flanders in her new podcast, Stephanomics. Subscribe via Pocket Cast or iTunes. Germany’s Rhine River could be impassable to ships again this summer if Europe has another drought, a once-rare weather phenomenon that’s becoming more likely with an increase in the temperature. That’s the … [Read more...]
Thyssenkrupp Improves Logistics After Rhine Low Water Crisis
By Tom Käckenhoff DUISBURG, Germany, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Thyssenkrupp will spend a mid double-digit million euro sum over five years to safeguard against a repeat of last year's low water crisis on the river Rhine, which hurt commodities flows and pushed up costs, a company official said. Emergency plans for personnel have been reworked, alternative modes of transport and … [Read more...]