Rhine: Level at Emmerich falls below zero

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Dry river bed of the Rhine near Emmerich (photo from Tuesday)

Photo: IMAGO/Jochen Tack

The water level on the Lower Rhine near Emmerich fell below zero in the early hours of the morning.

When measuring at 5 a.m., the record low of minus two centimeters was measured, as the Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) announced via the Elwis portal.

In Emmerich, near the border with the Netherlands, a water level of zero centimeters was measured for the first time on Tuesday, undercutting the old record low from October 2018.

Despite the exceptional situation, shipping was still possible until the very end: The water level is not synonymous with the fairway depth, which is decisive for shipping.

This was recently just under two meters in Emmerich.

According to the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Office, however, the situation could ease in the coming days: "Within the next few days, the water levels will rise again in the entire Rhine catchment area due to the announced precipitation," it said.

The 14-day forecast indicates that water levels will "rise by 50 centimeters and more" by the end of next week.

However, the office did not give the all-clear because the water levels “subsided again after the wave had passed through”.

Middle Rhine closed after ship span

On the Middle Rhine, shipping was stopped on Wednesday night for another reason.

As a spokesman for the water police announced, a freighter with machine damage is blocking the fairway between St. Goar and Oberwesel in Rhineland-Palatinate.

According to the information, it is a push boat with three so-called lighters.

The pushed convoy loaded with 1660 tons, which was on its way up the river, got stuck in a bottleneck where no ship could pass.

According to the water police, the push boat and the lighters are to be removed by support ships.

It is still unclear how long the Middle Rhine will remain closed to shipping.

"A cautious forecast is until noon," said the spokesman.

As the SWR reported, the pusher should be towed to Oberwesel.

Before that, however, the lighters would have to be transported away.

fek/dpa/Reuters