Low Rhine water levels disrupt shipping, Kaub gauge drops to zero
Water levels on the Rhine River have dropped to record lows, severely impacting barge shipping and industrial logistics in Germany. Experts warn that climate change may force companies to reconsider the long-term viability of production sites located along the river.
Why it matters
The Rhine is a critical artery for European industry; persistent low water levels threaten supply chains for major chemical companies and could negatively impact German economic output.
Water levels on the Rhine River, one of Europe's busiest shipping arteries, have fallen to another low, official data showed on Tuesday, hampering transport and production.The water level gauge at the chokepoint of Kaub near the city of Koblenz fell to zero centimetres late on Monday, inland navigation agency WSV data showed, before rising back to five centimetres early on Tuesday.A spokesperson for the agency said last week that the records being set in September had yet to be verified, but that, "unaudited raw data suggest that historical records are being broken."The riverbed is more than one metre deeper than the gauge, which has been traditionally used to measure local levels..Low water levels on the Rhine have become a burden for Germany's economy, particularly its chemicals sector, by restricting barge…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in