Water levels on Germany’s Rhine River are so low that some ships cannot sail even when empty, a shipping cooperative said on Friday, although long-awaited rains have begun to ease disruptions on one of the main trade routes. of the country, according to Reuters.
Weeks of drought across Europe have exacerbated problems in the supply chain as ships have been forced to reduce their cargoes to ensure they can travel along the waterways.
“Empty ships can no longer sail in some cases,” Roberto Spranzi, director of the DTG shipping cooperative that operates about 100 cargo ships on the Rhine, said on Friday.
Expected rains are forecast to raise the level of the Rhine by 50 to 80 centimeters in the coming days, a spokesman for the Federal Agency for Waterways and Shipping said, adding that the level would have to rise by 1-1.5 meters to reach levels typical for this time of year.
The water level at the Kaub point west of Frankfurt was 35 cm on Friday. Levels in the order of 30-35cm are acceptable for shipping, provided loads are reduced.
Chemical giant BASF said on Friday it had so far avoided production cuts due to the disruption, and Thyssenkrupp, Europe’s second-largest steelmaker, said its supply of raw materials was secure.
But energy major Shell said on Thursday it had cut output at a German refinery because of the low level of the Rhine.
Source: Capital
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