HAMBURG (Reuters) – Water levels in Germany’s Rhine fell again on Friday and continue to disrupt river transport, transporters and brokers said.
The transport of goods on this river continues, but the ships are sometimes forced to circulate three-quarters empty. Cargo owners regularly have to pay for four ships to carry their cargoes instead of just one.
Economists estimate that disruptions on the Rhine could shave half a percentage point off Germany’s economic growth this year.
The waterline baseline at Kaub Point near Koblenz was 42 centimeters on Friday, down about 5 centimeters on the day and 51 centimeters from Monday. This level should be about 1.5 meters for ships to sail fully loaded.
There is no specific level at which navigation stops, said Roberto Spranzi, director of DTG, a cooperative with a fleet of around 100 vessels on the Rhine.
Some large ships and barges can no longer pass through Kaub, he added, further clarifying that in Duisburg, large pusher-tug/barge units which normally carry 3,000 tonnes per barge can no longer operate. , he specified.
Loads are transferred to more small barges capable of operating in shallow waters, which is more expensive for cargo owners.
Low water on the Rhine will affect output at two German coal-fired power stations and chemicals group BASF said it could not rule out output cuts if they disrupt logistics.
(Report Michael Hogan; French version Valentine Baldassari, edited by Kate Entringer)
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