Barge operations almost at a halt amid perilously low Rhine water

The waters of the Rhine have hit perilously low levels, reducing barge activity on the river almost to a complete halt, and forecasts indicate minimal chances of rain this week and another temperature spike next week. Barge operator Contargo is reporting water levels at all four gauges of the north European river as between 10% and 64% below the point at which movement is only possible on a case-by-case negotiated basis. Nonetheless, it added that “inland navigation had not come to a complete standstill”, even with water levels of just 13cm and 29cm on the Emmerich and Kaub gauges – 57% and 64% below where the maximum low-water surcharge applies. The spokesperson told The Loadstar it was “ultimately up to the barge operators to decide when operating their vessels is no longer economically viable, or becomes unsafe”, adding: “This also depends on the type of vessel. Some of those operating for Contargo are specifically designed for low-water conditions and are therefore able to continue.” Even so, sources told The Loadstar, with all four gauges well below what are considered safely navigable levels, and little improvement seen in the near-term, the situation for shippers was looking perilous. One barge owner noted that shippers had been paying low-water surcharges for several weeks and were now having to prepare for significant disruption resulting from traffic along the Rhine “comingto a standstill”, at least on the Emmerich and Kaub gauges. They reiterated the views they gave to The Loadstar earlier in the month, after negotiations with barge operators willing to work below the usual navigable levels resulted in rates that “were not worth considering”, stressing that “all modalities will suffer” as capacity is sought. Contargo’s spokesperson noted that the company was “working closely with transport service providers to develop and establish suitable alternative transport services”, adding: “Our primary focus remains on maintaining connections between the seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp and the Rhine hinterland, either by increasing the frequency of existing rail services or by introducing so-called bypass services. “These rail bypass services bridge the Upper and Middle Rhine sections, but securing capacity remains extremely challenging. The standard diversion corridors (the left-bank Rhine line and the Siegerland route) are already operating full.” This is a consequence of those corridors already handling excess traffic generated by ongoing major refurbishment of the right-bank Rhine railway line, with remaining alternative routes some 200km longer and requiring substantially more resources. “These include locomotive crews, locomotives, and wagons, meaning that the result is that our rail service providers are reaching the limits of their available resources, and train rotation concepts have to be redesigned accordingly,” the spokesperson noted.