High water levels are expected to occur next week in some areas of the Rhine River due to snow thawing in the mountains.

Experts forecast the waterway to close for barge shipments if the water level rises above a certain mark.

According to a report by data provider Argus, levels could reach 750cm at Maxau in Germany's Baden-Wurttemberg region on 12 December, "depths at which a sailing ban on the river is typically enforced."

In addition to Maxau, impacted areas could include the chokepoints of Kaub, Koblenz, Cologne and Duisburg Ruhrort.

In November, heavy rainfall in Germany and France closed parts of the Rhine and Rhone rivers, hindering the movement of cargo on the two key waterways.