# Low Water Levels on the Rhine Strain Swiss Transport Operations **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** ELWIS / Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (WSV) | **Published:** 2026-09-20 | **Updated:** 2026-09-26 **Tags:** Rhein, Niedrigwasser, Basel, Binnenschiff, Rotterdam, Antwerpen, Bahn, Lkw, Kleinwasserzuschlag, Hinterland, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Schienentransport, Digitalisierung > The Rhine remains navigable, but ships can carry less cargo — and water levels continue to decline. More freight is pressing onto limited rail and truck capacity heading toward Switzerland. --- Low water levels on the Rhine continue to pressure transports between North Sea ports and the European hinterland. This is particularly important for Switzerland, as Basel is directly connected to Rotterdam, Antwerp, and German Rhine ports via the Rhine. The Rhine is not fundamentally closed. The practical problem is reduced cargo capacity. When an inland vessel can only load a portion of its normal cargo due to draft restrictions, it requires more trips for the same tonnage. Available space becomes scarcer and costs per container or ton increase. **Status September 19: The situation has not eased but has worsened.** The Kaub gauge—the key reference level on the Middle Rhine—was at approximately 25 centimeters on September 19, well below the standard water level (GlW) of 77 centimeters. The Federal Institute for Hydrology expects a further decline to approximately 10 to 15 centimeters by September 23. Contargo published low water customer information on September 18 with the following values, with the target values in parentheses: - **Emmerich:** 6 cm (70 cm) - **Duisburg-Ruhrort:** 152 cm (300 cm) - **Cologne:** 68 cm (195 cm) - **Kaub:** 26 cm (150 cm) All four gauges are below the thresholds at which the operator's transport obligation ends—Emmerich 30 cm, Duisburg-Ruhrort 180 cm, Cologne 105 cm, Kaub 80 cm. Free agreement applies. A value of minus four centimeters is expected at the Emmerich gauge on September 21; Contargo announces far-reaching operational measures for further declining water levels. Cargo cannot be arbitrarily shifted to rail or truck. Both modes are already heavily utilized. Additionally, container terminals, chassis, drivers, and rail slots must align. If one connection fails, delays can extend over several days. Fr. Meyer's Sohn warned in early September that restricted barge capacity remains a critical bottleneck, and the situation is likely to worsen in the short term. Maersk also confirmed on September 9 reduced barge capacity and difficulties for inland terminals in Germany and the Netherlands. Port strikes in early September have since ended and backlogs in German ports are largely cleared; however, the wage negotiation round continues, with a ballot on indefinite strikes running until October 1. Low water thus impacts an already strained system. Swiss importers and exporters may incur low water surcharges. Such surcharges are calculated differently depending on water level, route, and provider. They should therefore not be accepted as standard but reviewed per shipment. It is also important whether a quote includes guaranteed capacity or only the base transport price. --- Dispatch should request barges, rail, and trucks in parallel rather than replanning only after a rejection. Shippers must factor in longer lead times and storage reserves. For exports, the container should not arrive too late at the seaport; for imports, free terminal days and return times for empty containers must be checked. Low water surcharges should be included transparently in the calculation. Given current water levels, one point is added: Check whether your quote actually contains a transport obligation. Should the reference water levels fall below the agreed thresholds, this obligation lapses, and free agreement applies—the operator no longer has to provide transport. In short: The Rhine is still navigable, but less fits on each vessel – and that is precisely what makes the entire supply chain expensive. --- The Rhine is a main corridor between North Sea ports and Switzerland. Low water levels reduce the possible cargo capacity of inland vessels. Lower cargo capacity means more trips for the same transport volume. Rail and road cannot fully replace missing barge capacity. Rotterdam and German inland terminals are operationally affected. Swiss traffic via Basel experiences the restrictions directly. Possible consequences are longer transit times, equipment shortage, and surcharges. The development depends heavily on precipitation and water levels. The Kaub gauge was around 25 centimeters on September 19, 2026; the equivalent water level (GlW) there is 77 centimeters. The Federal Institute of Hydrology expects a decline to approximately 10 to 15 centimeters at the Kaub gauge by September 23, 2026. Contargo reported the following water levels on September 18, 2026, with target values in brackets: Emmerich 6 cm (70), Duisburg-Ruhrort 152 cm (300), Cologne 68 cm (195), Kaub 26 cm (150). The transport obligation threshold is reached at Emmerich 30 cm, Duisburg-Ruhrort 180 cm, Cologne 105 cm, and Kaub 80 cm; all four thresholds are below limits. The port strikes in early September have ended; a ballot on indefinite strikes runs until October 1, 2026. Further source: Contargo – Current Customer Information (Overview) ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Belgium](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be) - [France](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/fr) - [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) - [Antwerpen (BE ANR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/antwerpen-port-be-anr) ### Glossary - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Container terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-terminal) - [Exporter](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/exporter) - [Importer](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/importer-2) - [Intermodal Transportation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/intermodal-transportation) - [truck capacity](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/truck-capacity) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [Mode of transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/mode-of-transport-2) - [Inland Waterway Transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-waterway-transport) - [Detention](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/detention-2) - [Chassis](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/chassis) - [Low Water Surcharge (LWS)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-water-surcharge-lws) - [Draft](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/draft) - [Wage bargaining round](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/wage-bargaining-round) - [Strike ballot](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/strike-ballot) - [Hinterland Transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hinterland-transport-2) - [Low Water](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-water) - [Inland terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-terminal) - [Hinterland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hinterland) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-belastet-schweizer-transporte-20260919081722](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-belastet-schweizer-transporte-20260919081722)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-belastet-schweizer-transporte-20260919081722](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-belastet-schweizer-transporte-20260919081722)*