Low water levels on the Rhine restrict German shipping
Low water on the Rhine is forcing vessels to sail partially loaded south of Duisburg. Freight surcharges are being applied as costs for cargo owners rise.
Germany cargo vessels are sailing at reduced capacity on the Rhine river after dry weather triggered low water levels. The restriction forces operators to add freight surcharges to commodity shipments south of Duisburg and Cologne. Reduced vessel drafts increase logistics costs for industrial sectors reliant on the river.
### Logistics Costs Rise as Water Levels Drop Traders said on Monday that vessels passing the Kaub chokepoint can only sail about 50% full. In northern regions, ships carry 60% to 70% of their maximum load depending on the vessel type. This capacity crunch forces cargo owners to spread loads across multiple vessels, further inflating transport expenses.
