HAMBURG - Sharp falls in Rhine water levels in Germany this week are causing shipping problems, with surcharges again being imposed for freight transport, shipping firms said on Friday.
Water levels at Cologne in the Ruhr and at the key point of Kaub near Koblenz in the south had again fallen below levels at which vessels could sail fully laden, restricting navigation to south Germany, France and Switzerland.
The sudden cold snap this week has frozen many smaller rivers and canals in east and south Germany [L26443832].
In Germany, the Main-Danube canal was closed to ships, blocking a major route for east European grain exports to the large Dutch animal feed industry.
Parts of the river Elbe in east Germany were closed, stopping vessels from the port of Hamburg reaching the Czech Republic.
A series of other small canals and rivers in east Germany were also shut, restricting sailings to and from Berlin.
But the Rhine and the Danube remained open despite floating ice.
Germany's river navigation agency said on Friday it had started using icebreakers to keep parts of the river Main open. The river is used for fuel transport to Frankfurt airport.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
