This summer, low water levels caused by drought conditions hindered the regular movement of ships on the Rhine River. Now the tables have turned, but the impact remains.

An announcement by the German authorities revealed that some parts of the river were closed to shipping last week because of a rise in water levels.

On 15 November, weather forecasters expected water levels to reach eight meters last week.

Heavy rain in the past few days caused water levels to rise, and shipping was stopped around Maxau in south Germany last week, reports local media SWR.de. The authorities warned ship captains of a possible backlog of vessels.

Later, however, authorities announced that water levels were expected to drop by the end of the week.

While closures were reported in southern Germany, central and northern sections of the river remained open to shipping, reports Reuters.

Maersk halts barge operations on River Rhone

The weather conditions in Europe also impacted the River Rhone, which crosses both France and Switzerland.

The French authorities issued an orange flood warning last week for the eastern Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Region, and water levels on the river reached as high as five metres.

An advisory issued yesterday by Danish carrier Maersk revealed that it “stopped all Maersk barge operations in the interest of safety.”

“We expect all operations to resume in week 48 (Monday 27 November 2023), but this may be subject to change depending on how weather conditions develop,” added the carrier.

When water levels rise to critical levels, vessels do not have enough space to sail under bridges. Unlike drought conditions, where ships could sail provided they reduce their load, high water levels could bring cargo movement to a halt.

Both the Rhine and the Rhone are important shipping routes for Europe. The rivers serve as key waterways for the transportation of multiple types of commodities such as coal, grain, animal feed and oil products.