One-way shipping restrictions lifted on upper IJssel after rain

One-way shipping restrictions on the upper IJssel have been lifted after recent rainfall restored the minimum channel depth, Rijkswaterstaat says, allowing vessels to travel in both directions again.

The restriction had been in force since 14 October because of low water. It limited inland vessels to upstream travel from Zutphen towards Arnhem. Some ships had to take a diversion of up to 300 kilometres, adding time and fuel costs, according to ANP reporting published by Nieuws.nl.

Rijkswaterstaat said the minimum measured depth of 1.45 metres had been reached again. It cautioned that the dry period was not over and said water levels would continue to be monitored. Shipping measures could be changed again if conditions shift.

The restriction followed an earlier spell of low water that also led to one-way shipping on the upper IJssel in September. That earlier restriction was introduced because the channel was too narrow for safe two-way traffic.