#Freight

Rhine water levels hit record lows, disrupting European river cruises and shipping

Water levels on the Rhine have fallen to unprecedented lows as persistent heat and drought continue across Europe. At Kaub, a key navigational bottleneck on the Middle Rhine, the river gauge reached levels below the previous record set in 2018, with measurements dropping to approximately 10 centimetres on August 14th. Riviera Travel cancelled 10 departures and modified six itineraries due to low water conditions, while other operators including Uniworld have introduced ship swaps and itinerary changes. The disruption extends to freight transport, with cargo increasingly transferred to road and rail as commercial shipping faces interruptions.