Rhine gauge hits zero at Kaub as low water disrupts navigation

The Rhine’s water-level gauge at Kaub, a key shipping bottleneck in Germany, registered 0cm at 17:30 local time on Friday 25 September. Low water is forcing vessels to carry smaller loads, increasing transport costs for German companies, ANP/DPA reported. [2] [1]

A zero gauge reading does not mean the Rhine is dry. It measures the water’s height relative to a fixed local reference point, not the depth of the river or its navigation channel. [4]

Earlier on Friday, ANP/DPA reported a new low at Kaub, following levels below 10cm in August. The official historical table lists a lowest daily average of 25cm on 22 October 2018 — a different measure from Friday’s individual reading. [1] [3] [4]

Baden-Württemberg’s Low Water Information Centre attributes the region’s low water to several months of scarce rainfall. At Maxau on the Upper Rhine, the daily average level on 22 September was 1.76 metres below the 1991–2020 average for that date. [7]

Navigation restrictions

The Kaub ferry has been suspended until further notice, SWR reported on 24 September. Operator André Kimpel told the broadcaster that the service can run down to a gauge level of 15cm. Ferries between Bad Breisig and Bad Hönningen, and between Linz and Kripp, were still operating, though partly with restrictions. [6]

In the Netherlands, one-way navigation took effect on the Upper IJssel on Friday morning. Vessels may travel upstream from the mouth of the Twentekanaal near Zutphen towards the IJsselkop near Arnhem, but passage in the opposite direction is prohibited. [5]

Dutch waterways authority Rijkswaterstaat said the narrowing navigation channel meant existing restrictions were no longer sufficient for safe two-way traffic. Its designated diversion for vessels arriving from Germany runs via the Waal towards Tiel and is up to 300 kilometres long. [5]