Germany’s HGK Shipping has called on European countries to launch a major shipbuilding programme aimed at protecting inland cargo transport from increasingly severe periods of low water.
The proposal would see up to 1,000 new low-draft inland vessels built by 2035, with the total investment estimated at as much as €12.5 billion.
The new generation of vessels would be specifically designed to continue operating when river levels fall to extremely low levels — a problem that has repeatedly affected navigation on the Rhine and created significant challenges for European supply chains.
Low water levels are becoming a serious challenge on the Rhine
The Rhine is one of Europe’s most important transport corridors, carrying large volumes of chemicals, petroleum products, raw materials, containers and other industrial cargoes.
On 11 August, the water level recorded at the Kaub gauge on the Middle Rhine was reported at just 16 centimetres.
Such conditions significantly restrict conventional inland vessels. Operators are forced to reduce their draft by carrying less cargo, which directly reduces vessel capacity. During particularly severe low-water periods, some vessels may become unable to navigate the shallowest sections of the river altogether.
This means that vessels capable of carrying thousands of tonnes under normal conditions may have to operate with only a fraction of their usual cargo.
Low-draft vessels could provide a solution
HGK Shipping believes that purpose-built vessels capable of operating in shallow water could significantly improve the resilience of European inland shipping.
As an example, the company points to its own low-draft tanker SYNTHESE 18. Even during extremely low-water conditions, the vessel is capable of transporting around 485 tonnes of cargo through the Kaub section.
Building a much larger fleet based on similar concepts could allow cargo transportation along the Rhine to continue even during severe drought periods.
The proposed programme would therefore not simply replace ageing inland vessels, but gradually create a new fleet better adapted to difficult navigation conditions.
Why this matters for European industry
Reliable navigation on the Rhine is critical for many industrial companies located along the river and its connected waterways.
When barges are forced to reduce their cargo capacity, more vessel trips are required to transport the same amount of goods. If navigation becomes impossible, cargo has to be transferred to rail or road transport.
However, both railway networks and road freight operators have limited spare capacity to absorb the large volumes normally transported by inland waterways.
This can increase transportation costs, create supply-chain bottlenecks and affect industries that depend on continuous deliveries of raw materials, chemicals and energy products.
HGK Shipping’s proposal to build 1,000 low-water vessels by 2035 could therefore become an important step towards keeping European inland shipping reliable even during periods of extremely low water levels.
