Rheinpegel rise: Inland navigation under pressure - entrepreneurs complain!

Rheinpegel rise: Inland navigation under pressure - entrepreneurs complain!

The water levels on the Rhine show a slight increase after the recent rains in North Rhine-Westphalia, but inland navigation is still under pressure. On April 17, a water level of 1.49 meters was reported in Cologne, while on April 19 at 10:00 a.m. in Bonn, a level level of 1.86 meters was reached. Forecasts assume that the water levels in Bonn could possibly reach the 2 meters brand in the evening. Despite this easy relaxation, the situation for shipping remains tense. Large cargo ships can only be used to a limited extent and can usually only drive with a half -loaded capacity, which causes additional costs for the companies. Radio Bonn reports that the situation is particularly critical in the Kaub, Rhineland-Palatinate region, where the water level fell on April 13th at less than 78 centimeters.

On April 17, an increase to 88 centimeters was observed in Kaub, but the level remains far below the optimal values. A water level of 1.18 meters is expected for Sunday morning. This means that entrepreneurs are forced to book several ships to transport the required freight. The demand for additional cargo dream has increased due to the current conditions, which continues to drive the costs. The restrictions on inland navigation continue to increase, and a faster solution for the problems is not in sight.

forecasts and weather conditions

The German Weather Service (DWD) has predicted heavy rain for the coming days, which feeds hope of returning to stable water levels. Nevertheless, there are warning voices that indicate that the water levels in the Rhine are likely to continue to fall moderately. In Cologne, the level is currently 1.54 meters, with a driver depth of almost 2.70 meters, which results in a restriction of freight capacity for larger ships. The situation on the Middle Rhine near Bingen is also worrying, where the gutter depth is only 1.90 meters - this only enables a third of the usual freight capacity.

The entrepreneurs in the region clearly feel the effects of these restrictions. The need to use the same amount of freight increases the need to transport the same amount of freight. These challenges are emphasized by the

Overall, the situation on the Rhine remains tense, while the companies have to adjust to an uncertain spring season. It remains to be seen whether the announced rains will lead to a significant improvement in the water levels.