# Kaub Sets Rhine Record Low – Ships Operating at Minimal Load Capacity **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-08-01 **Tags:** Rhein, Kaub, Niedrigwasser, Binnenschifffahrt, Rheinpegel, Abladetiefe, Niedrigwasserzuschlag, Basel, Rotterdam, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Digitalisierung > The Rhine water level at Kaub fell to 25 cm, matching the record set in 2018. Ships continue to operate but can only load approximately 20 percent of their capacity in some cases. --- The Rhine has reached a historic low point at the important Kaub gauge. On July 31st, 25 centimeters were measured in the morning. Exactly this value had last been recorded on October 22, 2018. A week earlier, the gauge had still been at 55 centimeters. What is unusual is not only the low water level itself, but the timing. Extreme low water conditions on the Middle Rhine normally occur in late summer or autumn. End of July is therefore particularly critical: there are still several warm summer weeks ahead in which drought and high evaporation can further strain the Rhine. Shipping is still possible. Therefore, a complete standstill cannot yet be spoken of. Economically, however, transport is becoming increasingly difficult. According to market reports, many vessels can now only sail with approximately 20 percent of their usual cargo capacity. For individual ships, only about 250 tons of freight remain for passage at Kaub. For the same amount of goods, multiple vessels are now required. At the same time, low water and minimum water surcharges are increasing. Costs for tanker transport from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe stood at around 150 to 155 euros per ton at the end of July. At the end of June, it was still approximately 45 euros. Container services are also affected. Maersk, for example, charges surcharges of 1,335 euros for a 20-foot container and 1,560 euros for a 40-foot container when the Kaub gauge falls below 31 centimeters. Below 81 centimeters, no fixed loading guarantee is provided. The effects extend into Switzerland. Kaub lies on the most important Rhine connection between the North Sea ports and Basel. Already in mid-July, the Swiss Rhine Ports reported that vessels could only transport 30 to 40 percent of their usual cargo. With the further decline in the gauge level, the situation has deteriorated further. --- Freight forwarders and shippers should no longer calculate Rhine transports based on normal transit times and standard costs. For existing bookings, it must be checked whether a low-water surcharge applies and whether the shipping line or operator still guarantees loading at all. Already confirmed quantities can be distributed across multiple vessels or held back at the terminal. For time-critical shipments, rail and road alternatives should be examined. However, you must expect tight capacities and higher prices. It is also important to clearly specify in the contract who bears the costs for low-water surcharges, transshipment, interim storage, and additional pre- or on-carriage. Particularly critical are mineral oil products, chemicals, construction materials, grain, ores, and other heavy bulk cargo. With these goods, the possible payload capacity decreases particularly rapidly. In short: The Rhine is not closed, but transport via Kaub is expensive, slow, and difficult to plan at these water levels. --- The Kaub gauge reached 25 centimeters on July 31, 2026 at 05:00. The previous low level of 25 centimeters dates from October 22, 2018. This is a matching of the record, not a new record. On August 1, the gauge stood at 27 centimeters again at 05:00. The equivalent water level, abbreviated as GlW, at Kaub is 77 centimeters. The average annual low water level is 65 centimeters. At the end of July, freight ships could only transport around 20 percent of their normal cargo load. For individual vessels at Kaub, approximately 250 tons of possible additional cargo were cited. Tanker transports Rotterdam–Karlsruhe increased in cost from approximately 45 to 150 to 155 euros per ton. When the Kaub gauge is below 31 centimeters, Maersk charges a low water surcharge of 1,560 euros for a 40-foot container. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [Netherlands](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/nl) - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) ### Seaports - [Rotterdam (NL RTM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/rotterdam-port-nl-rtm) ### Glossary - [Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/cargo) - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Container terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-terminal) - [Rhine vessel](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rhine-vessel) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Container Terminal Dock Management](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-terminal-dock-management) - [Inland Waterway Transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-waterway-transport) - [Trimodal Logistics Planning](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/trimodal-logistics-planning) - [Modal split policy](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/modal-split-policy) - [Low Water Surcharge (LWS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-water-surcharge-lws) - [Loading Draught (Abladetiefe)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/loading-draught-abladetiefe) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/kaub-stellt-rhein-rekordtief-ein-schiffe-fahren-nur-noch-mit-minimalzuladung-20260801084444](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/kaub-stellt-rhein-rekordtief-ein-schiffe-fahren-nur-noch-mit-minimalzuladung-20260801084444)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/kaub-stellt-rhein-rekordtief-ein-schiffe-fahren-nur-noch-mit-minimalzuladung-20260801084444](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/kaub-stellt-rhein-rekordtief-ein-schiffe-fahren-nur-noch-mit-minimalzuladung-20260801084444)*