Low Water Levels Halt Freight Shipping on Upper Elbe River

Freight shipping on the Upper Elbe River in Saxony has ground to a halt, with no vessels currently operating in the region's Elbe ports. Despite rainfall in the latter half of August, the river's water level remains critically low, preventing commercial navigation. Mandy Hofmann, spokesperson for Sächsische Binnenhäfen Oberelbe (SBO), confirmed the ongoing standstill and stated that a resumption of services is not yet foreseeable.

Significant and sustained rainfall, particularly in the Czech Republic, is required to raise the water levels sufficiently. Hofmann explained that a reliable water level above one meter at the Dresden gauge is necessary for shipping companies to redeploy their vessels. Currently, the level is approximately 60 centimeters. The usual resumption of freight traffic on the Upper Elbe in September may be delayed this year, with uncertainty surrounding the exact timeline.

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We hope for the best, but we don't know.

The low water levels began unusually early this year, with freight shipping ceasing at the end of April. This prolonged period has caused disruptions, preventing the timely transport of goods. Large machine parts, generators, and turbines intended for onward transport are still stranded in Dresden. The abrupt halt also affected imports, with some ships unable to reach their destinations and remaining in seaports.

While some German states have eased Sunday driving restrictions to mitigate the impact of low water levels nationwide, these measures do not benefit the Sächsische Binnenhäfen Oberelbe. The company had already shifted as much cargo as possible to road and rail earlier in the year. Heavy transports that are ideally suited for water transport are now waiting in the harbor for the river levels to improve.

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We have had low water since the end of April. We shifted transports as much as possible back then.