Germany prepares for extremely low water levels due to climate change

By Xinhua Published: Aug 30, 2022 08:05 AM

Photo taken on Aug. 17, 2022 shows River Rhine in Dusseldorf, Germany. The water level has dropped due to high temperature and drought.(Photo: Xinhua)

Pigeons perch on rocks along the bank of River Rhine in Ruedesheim, Germany, Aug. 16, 2022.(Photo: Xinhua)

Low water levels on the River Rhine due to this summer's record drought have led German policymakers and industry to launch a Low Water Action Plan, according to the Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV).

"We have to face the fact that in the long term, due to climate change, we will have to adjust to extreme periods of low water again and again," Minister of Transport Volker Wissing said on Monday.

River shipping in Germany has been significantly affected by the drought which has hit Europe in recent weeks, with new record low water levels recorded at many measuring stations. "We face an immense logistical challenge," Wissing underlined.

To tackle bottlenecks on the Rhine, Europe's busiest waterway, the ministry said that the number of ships adapted to low water levels would be increased. In addition, stretches of the river will become pilot areas for optimized navigation during low water.

During a previous record drought in 2018, freight transport volumes on German inland waterways plummeted by more than a third. This year, water levels have started to rise again, but the historically difficult autumn months are yet to come.

The decision to launch a joint Low Water Action Plan is "spot on -- the past few weeks have confirmed that," said Uwe Liebelt from German chemical giant BASF. "Today we have better forecasting models, more intermodal flexibility and more low-water vessels."

Germany's economy is highly sensitive to any disruptions on the Rhine. During the energy crisis, inland shipping was of "enormous importance" for transporting energy sources such as coal or mineral oil, which are now used to replace gas, Wissing stressed.

To secure sufficient energy supplies, Germany recently decided to prioritize rail transport of energy-related shipments over passenger transport. "Even passenger trains can only run if our power grid and power supply are stable," the transport minister said.