Low water still hampers Rhine and Danube shipping in Germany

[July 17, 2017]  HAMBURG (Reuters) - Water on the Rhine and Danube in Germany remains shallow and cargo vessels cannot sail fully loaded, traders said on Monday.

 A general view shows The Rhine Tower (Rheinturm) on the Rhine river in Duesseldorf. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

The rivers had fallen below normal levels in late June after dry weather.

The Rhine is still too shallow for normal sailings from Duisburg and Cologne to southern stretches of the river, traders said. All of the Danube in Germany is too shallow for normal loading.

Shallow water means vessel operators impose surcharges on freight rates, increasing costs for cargo owners.

The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products including heating oil.

The Danube is a major route for east European grain exports to west Europe.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Alison Williams)

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