Drought: river levels at their lowest, river transport struggling

The captains are desperately waiting for torrential rains to return to normal activity.

The exceptional drought affecting France and Europe is affecting river transport on the rivers, rivers and canals of France.

“Not all axes are affected in the same way.

The Seine basin, for example, is holding up quite well.

Major difficulties are appearing on the Rhine, the Moselle, the Rhône and the canals, ”explains Stéphanie Peigney-Couderc, deputy director of the Seine and Loire basin downstream, at Voies navigables de France (VNF).

The overall filling rate of VNF's water reserves, which are supposed to supply the 6,700 km of river network, is 60% compared to 72% a year earlier.

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