The Rhine reached a new record low water level at the Dutch-German border over the weekend, with forecasts indicating no significant rainfall in the immediate days ahead.
At Lobith, where the Rhine enters the Netherlands, the river level fell to 6.1 metres on Sunday, September 27th, below the previous record of 6.12 metres recorded in August. Further upstream in Cologne, water levels fell to just 40 centimetres on the gauge, leaving ~1.5 metres of navigable depth.
The conditions temporarily stranded the Dutch river cruise ship Dutch Melody in the middle of the river. The vessel, which carries 140 passengers across four decks, was able to resume its voyage after receiving assistance from another vessel, according to German river police. The ship was scheduled to reach Nijmegen later on Monday.
Water levels are expected to decline further during the week as a result of low rainfall in the Alps. At Lobith, Rhine discharge has fallen below 600 cubic metres per second for the first time since records began.
The prolonged summer drought has prompted Dutch water authorities to introduce restrictions on river traffic as waterways have become progressively narrower and shallower. On the IJssel, vessels travelling between Arnhem and Zutphen are required to take a 300-kilometre detour following the introduction of a one-way traffic system by Rijkswaterstaat.
The low-water conditions have also affected ferry services and river cruising. Some ferry crossings have been suspended, while river cruise operators have cancelled sailings or shortened itineraries where sections of the Rhine have become impassable.