German transport ministers want to better prepare inland shipping for prolonged low water phases. At their conference in Hohenschwangau, they called for further development of the existing eight-point plan. Rail, road, and waterway are to work more closely together.
This involves a plan with which supply chains can continue operating even with low water levels. According to the Bavarian Transport Ministry, this also includes vessels that can be deployed more effectively at low water levels. The promotion of such fleets should be considered more strongly at the European level.
The direction makes sense for shippers. Those who source large quantities via the Rhine need an alternative option when restrictions occur. However, this option must be prepared in advance. A rail connection marked on a map or a phone number for a freight forwarder is not sufficient for this.
It makes sense to first identify critical goods and quantities. After that, available transshipment facilities, suitable vehicles, and the storage capacity of one's own warehouse can be checked. It should be clear how much additional transport time the operation can handle. The political demand does not automatically create reserved alternative capacity. Those who already have a concrete contingency plan can decide more quickly which quantities continue to be transported by ship and which should temporarily use other means of transport.