GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 18, 2026
Loading Draught (Abladetiefe)
In inland navigation, the loading draught (German: Abladetiefe) is the maximum permissible immersion depth of a loaded vessel on a given stretch of waterway – limited by the actual available depth of the navigation channel.
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Source: https://www.pegelonline.wsv.de/
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Definition & Explanation
In inland navigation, the loading draught (German: Abladetiefe) is the maximum permissible immersion depth of a loaded vessel on a given stretch of waterway – limited by the actual available depth of the navigation channel. It is derived from the current water level at the relevant reference gauge and directly determines how much cargo an inland vessel may take on: when the level falls, the cargo quantity must be reduced. On the Rhine, the section at Kaub is the critical bottleneck for voyages to the Upper Rhine; a large motor vessel with a capacity of around 500 TEU can sometimes only be half-loaded at low water levels. The loading draught is therefore the central planning parameter for vessel scheduling, freight calculation and the application of low water surcharges. Not to be confused with the draught itself, which describes the actual immersion depth of the vessel in the water – the loading draught defines the permissible upper limit on the respective route.
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