Shipping on the Danube remains under pressure
Several European inland waterway shipping associations have pointed out that water levels in the river Danube have reached disconcerting lows of late. A section of the river in Germany, specifically between Regensburg and Passau, has been particularly hard-hit. The Pfelling measuring station has reported a level of 2.4 m; the regular level should be between 3.6–3.8 m. The level is thus approaching the historic low of 2.28 m, measured on 23 August 2018.
The low water levels mean that many inland barges can only still carry around one quarter of their full load on this section of the river. On top of this some public ports in the Danube area are charging very high handling fees for the partial unloading of cargo.
The further dredging and expansion of the Danube waterway remains one of the associations’ central demands, especially in the light of ongoing concern over climate change. (mw)
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