Kaub:Germany’s inland navigation association has issued a warning that most cargo vessels are currently unable to navigate sections of the Rhine River. This situation arises as water levels have plunged to unprecedented lows due to prolonged dry weather and high temperatures.

According to Iraqi News Agency, the association reported that the town of Kaub, a crucial reference point for navigation, is experiencing such low water levels that fully loaded cargo ships are unable to pass through the area. This has resulted in significant restrictions on commercial shipping, impacting industrial sectors including steel and chemicals, with major companies resorting to using specially modified vessels.

Matthias Rosner from the inland navigation association highlighted the severity of the issue, noting that many German ship captains are refusing to sail through the affected areas due to the shallowness of the water. Despite river transport constituting only about 5 percent of Germany’s total freight transport, the Rhine is a vital trade route. In response to the disruptions, the German government recently lifted the ban on truck traffic on Sundays and public holidays to alleviate the crisis’s impact.