Rhine River's Low Water Levels
Captain Daniel Langius cancels shore excursions and races the AmaCerto past Kaub as Rhine levels fall to 62 centimeters, below the 78-centimeter threshold.
- On the AmaWaterways cruise ship AmaCerto, Captain Daniel Langius is racing to navigate the Rhine as water levels drop, warning, "The level of the Rhine drops down." Every hour counts to ensure the vessel reaches the Moselle before conditions worsen.
- Navigable water depth at Kaub sits at about 62 centimetres, well below the critical threshold of 78 centimetres. If depth falls below about 30 centimetres, vessels like the AmaCerto cannot safely continue through the passage.
- Passengers gained unexpected daylight views of Frankfurt, rebuilt quickly after the Second World War. A guide noted, "On the riverbank, you can see residential buildings from the 1950s and some of them are not very nice looking."
- Captain Langius canceled all shore excursions for the next day-and-a-half to race past Kaub to Koblenz. If the ship becomes stranded, AmaWaterways must execute a "ship swap," moving luggage and passengers to a sister vessel.
- Having sailed since he was three, Captain Langius says, "I'm not like most captains." Born in the Netherlands, he measures two metres, noting that passengers focus on his height rather than his professional background.
19 Articles
19 Articles
The low levels of the rivers reveal remains from earlier times, reminiscent of gloomy thrillers – and also of the dramas played out on the Rhine, Main and Danube.
From the Loire River to the Danube, via the Rhine and Po, European rivers are faced with exceptionally low water levels. After an early summer marked by record temperatures, drought threatens river transport, energy production, ecosystems and water supply.
Many cargo ships cannot be fully loaded because of the empty rivers. This is a burden on transport and production. German economic output could shrink as a result.
The level in the Rhine continues to decline - which disrupts the logistics massively. At the same time, agriculture suffers greatly from the persistent drought. What are the consequences in everyday life already to be noticed? By Jens Eberl.
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