# Low Water Levels on the Rhine Halt Inland Navigation on the Upper Rhine **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-07-17 | **Updated:** 2026-07-26 **Tags:** Rhein, Niedrigwasser, Pegel Kaub, Binnenschifffahrt, Contargo, Basel, Containerlogistik, Oberrhein, Import, Export, Terminal, Transportplanung, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Digitalisierung, Zoll > The Rhine's historic low water levels are causing massive disruptions to inland waterway shipping. Contargo is temporarily suspending traffic on the Upper Rhine. --- **Contargo suspends inland waterway operations to Upper Rhine due to low water levels** Persistent drought conditions are further exacerbating the situation on the Rhine. According to Contargo, the water level at Kaub dropped to 53 centimeters on July 13. Safe operation of inland waterway transport to the Upper Rhine is currently no longer possible. The terminals in Basel, Weil am Rhein, Ottmarsheim, and Strasbourg are particularly affected. For safety reasons, Contargo's inland vessels can no longer reach these locations. The company has temporarily suspended traffic to the Upper Rhine. Container transport is also directly impacted. The inland vessels KV Panerai and KV Contargo I can no longer transport import containers all the way to the Upper Rhine. Cargo is instead being discharged at the Contargo terminal in Emmelsum. According to Contargo, customers have already been notified regarding affected shipments. In exports, the vessels KV Vision, KV Statendam, and KV Dortmund continue operations as scheduled towards Antwerp and Rotterdam. An additional departure is scheduled for July 16. However, this sailing is already fully booked. No further departures can be offered at present in either import or export operations. Contargo notes that operations are suspended for safety reasons when water levels at Kaub fall between 50 and 60 centimeters. Based on current weather forecasts, the company does not expect any significant improvement in water levels in the coming days. For the logistics industry, this situation presents additional challenges. Delays, transshipment to road transport, and higher storage and transportation costs may result. Companies should examine alternative transport solutions early and monitor supply chains continuously. --- For shippers, freight forwarders, and importers in the Upper Rhine region, close coordination with logistics partners is essential. Alternative transport solutions by truck or rail should be examined early on. At the same time, it is advisable to continuously monitor water levels, as the operational possibilities of inland shipping can change daily. --- The water level in Kaub was 53 centimeters on July 13. Contargo is temporarily suspending inland waterway shipping to the Upper Rhine. Affected locations are Basel, Weil am Rhein, Ottmarsheim, and Strasbourg. Import containers are being unloaded at the Emmelsum terminal. The additional departure on July 16 is already fully booked. Further departures for import and export are currently unavailable. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [France](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/fr) - [Netherlands](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/nl) - [Belgium](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be) ### 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 - [Export](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/export-2) - [Import](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import-2) - [Warehouse](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/warehouse-3) - [Supply chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain-2) - [Rhine vessel](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rhine-vessel) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Supply Chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [transport costs](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transport-costs) - [Containerized Cargo Handling](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/containerized-cargo-handling) - [Hinterland Connection](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hinterland-connection) - [Inland Waterway Transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-waterway-transport) - [Warehouse](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/warehouse) - [inland port](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-port) - [rail hinterland transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rail-hinterland-transport) - [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) - [Water Level (Gauge Reading)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/water-level-gauge-reading) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-stoppt-binnenschifffahrt-am-oberrhein-20260717142331](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-stoppt-binnenschifffahrt-am-oberrhein-20260717142331)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-stoppt-binnenschifffahrt-am-oberrhein-20260717142331](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/niedrigwasser-auf-dem-rhein-stoppt-binnenschifffahrt-am-oberrhein-20260717142331)*