Corrected Article
Unnavigable Rhine Threatens to Split Waterway in Two
Water levels along the Rhine have fallen below the historic lows set earlier this summer, prompting carriers to add new surcharges and raising the prospect that Europe’s key inland shipping artery could become impassable along its full length.
MSC introduced traffic congestion surcharges effective Aug. 20 on rail, truck, and rail-truck moves through Antwerp and Rotterdam via inland hubs including Frankfurt, Neuss, Strasbourg, and Trier, citing barge transport that has become “extremely restricted” and in many cases impossible. The fees run €44 per container for truck moves and €50 per container for rail and rail-truck loads originating in or destined for Germany and Alsace.
Since MSC’s announcement, gauge readings have deteriorated further. Jens Schwanen, managing director of the Federal Association of German Inland Shipping, told local media that with Kaub expected to drop into single digits for the first time on record, commercial shipping will effectively lose the ability to move goods, splitting the Rhine’s navigable length in two.
In a recent update, IAMTrusted member Carl Hartmann reports the impact is landing unevenly: his own German-origin business, routed via Bremerhaven and Hamburg, is largely unaffected, but importers relying on ARA ports to reach Swiss and Austrian inland points face major disruption, as containers can barely move up the Rhine to inland container yards. On the export side, the member notes some barge operators have suspended vessel operations entirely, while others run reduced capacity at steep low-water surcharges.
IAM Member Impact: With no quick resolution expected, members routing shipments through the Rhine corridor can expect higher transport costs and should build in significant transit buffers into September.
Source: The Loadstar
Member Contribution: Carl Hartmann