The recent low water levels on the Rhine have also affected ships sailing on the Danube. Some cargo ships were partially unloaded in Regensburg or Passau to continue with less cargo. However, this is not only for technical reasons, but also for economic reasons.
Freight costs have risen significantly due to the low water levels, says logistics expert Patrick Lepperhoff of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Inverto. As a result, the freight volume on the Rhine fell to 60 percent the week before. Cargo ships have been partially unloaded in Regensburg and Passau, among others, and are already on their way to the Rhine with less cargo on the Danube.
Emergency care under 30 centimeters
In order to sail through the shallow areas, ships sometimes have to wait three days for their partial unloading. According to Lepperhoff, one ship usually replaces 150 trucks. Despite the current challenges, he does not expect shipping to be completely shut down for the time being. Even at the previous low, when the level at Kaub dropped to 25 centimeters, shipping was not officially banned. It just didn’t make sense economically. In general, only an improvised supply of a few goods is possible below a water level of 30 centimeters.
Because it is currently raining, the German waterway manager in Kaub expects water levels of more than one meter this week. For shipping, this means that the situation is easing for the time being. Lepperhoff assumes that things will return to normal in late September or early October.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
