Waterways are a vital mode of freight transport in Germany, but they have been suffering from water shortages for several years now due to declining rainfall. Once again, the summer of 2025 is proving critical, with cumulative annual precipitation at extremely low levels, comparable to 2003, which is remembered as a drought year. In May and June, rivers and canals recorded water levels below historical seasonal averages.
The year 2024 was considered a poor one for inland navigation in Germany, even though 173.8 million tonnes of goods were transported on federal waterways, marking a slight 1.2% increase from the all-time low recorded in 2023. However, an analysis of Germany’s major rivers reveals significant variation in the impact of drought. The Rhine saw 89 days of low-water conditions (niedrigwasser), more than double the 42 days recorded in 2023, while the Elbe experienced the most severe situation with 112 critical days, a 43.6% increase. The Danube and the Weser were less severely affected but still recorded substantial disruptions, with 67 and 45 critical days respectively. These conditions forced vessels to operate at only 70% of their normal cargo capacity, severely limiting efficiency.
These operational challenges translated into additional costs for inland waterway transport. Lower water levels mean reduced cargo capacity per vessel, requiring more trips to move the same volume of goods. These increased costs undermine the competitiveness of water transport compared to road freight and pose supply challenges for industries that rely heavily on inland shipping, such as the chemical and steel sectors.
The container segment was also affected, with a 10.4% decrease in container volumes moved by inland waterways in 2024. The Red Sea crisis further complicated matters, disrupting European maritime connections and, in turn, impacting inland navigation. Overall, annual economic losses linked to drought are estimated at around €2.1 billion, factoring in higher transport costs, delivery delays and loss of competitiveness.
Faced with what is becoming a chronic situation, both institutions and operators are implementing adaptation strategies. One such measure involves deepening waterways. In 2022, this was done on the Elbe, where the draught near the port of Hamburg was increased to 16.10 metres. From 2025 to 2029, similar work will take place to improve connectivity between Hanover, Magdeburg and Berlin, bringing depths to between 3.2 and 3.5 metres.
Another important intervention targets the control of river and canal levels. The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research has launched a system that provides real-time forecasts of soil moisture levels using a percentile-based method drawn from historical data spanning 1951 to 2015. The system identifies drought conditions when soil moisture falls below the 20th percentile of historical values. There is also the KLiVO Portal programme, which centralises data and information on climate change to support targeted adaptation. Operators are also working on upgrading the fleet, thanks in part to the federal programme Motoren und Modernisierung für die Binnenschifffahrt, which allocates €50 million annually to support the development of more modern vessels.
