Water Levels On Important Rhine Routes Remain Extremely Low

Water levels at a key waypoint on the Rhine are expected to remain extremely low for the rest of the week, suggesting the movement of vital commodities on Europe's most important waterway will remain severely restricted. The marking at Kaub, a shallow spot on the river west of Frankfurt, currently stands at 31 cm (12.2 inches) and is expected to remain in the 31-34 cm range by Saturday morning local time, according to the latest government figures. When the water level drops to 40 centimeters or below, it becomes uneconomical for many barges carrying commodities to pass through the pass.

The Rhine is used to transport millions of tons of fuel and other goods. Low water levels limit the cargo capacity of barges traversing the waterway. The mark of Kaub is not the actual depth of the river, but a measure used for navigability. Rainfall is expected to increase over the next few days in Germany. Companies operating along the Rhine have been taking steps to deal with low water levels, including hoarding coal and relying more on the rail. Some shipping companies have restricted their activities.