The water level of the Rhine River in Frankfurt Kob, Germany, has risen about 75 centimeters (30 inches) to nearly 115 centimeters since last Friday. According to the German government, the water level is expected to peak at 154 centimeters on Tuesday before moving lower again. The rising water level makes it easier for barges carrying important commodities to navigate the Rhine.
Millions of tons of iron ore, coal, chemicals, petroleum products and other goods are known to be transported along the Rhine every year. But in recent weeks, the Rhine has continued to be at low water levels, severely hampering waterborne transport and causing disruptions to the operations of industrial facilities, including Germany’s largest oil refinery.
However, the crisis appears to be far from over. Starting tomorrow afternoon, the water level in the Kaub will drop again and is expected to drop to 119 centimeters by Friday morning local time.
The Rhine and its tributaries, which continue to be at very low water levels, are increasing the demand for additional tonnage and pushing up transport prices significantly,” container shipping company Contargo GmbH & Co. KG said in a statement on Monday. This bottleneck will continue to affect our services on the rail network and inland navigation.”
Historical data shows that, on a 20-year average, the water level in the Kaub is usually at its lowest level at the beginning of October, which indicates that it is likely to drop further in the coming weeks.
