Inland shipping in Bavaria is facing an ever-increasing problem as the water level continues to fall due to the drought. The Danube flows freely over 70 kilometers between the Lower Bavarian towns of Vilshofen and Straubing, so the water level cannot be controlled. “We’ve had low water for weeks,” says Stefan Niedermeier, authorized signatory at the port of Straubing. The level in Pfelling is decisive for the route section. At 2.25 meters, the lowest value since recording began was measured there on Wednesday. “Freight ships only travel with a quarter of the load,” says Niedermeier. At some point it will come to a standstill. “There’s a lot of money being thrown overboard.” Passenger ships usually have an even greater draft than cargo ships. According to the Waterways and Shipping Office (WSA), some cruise giants, but also smaller ferries, can no longer navigate the Danube. “Due to the long dry phase, the water levels are falling steadily,” says Yvonne Kallai-Bauer, spokeswoman for the WSA Regensburg. Temperatures are not expected to improve next week either. Canoeists and ferry captains are also concerned about the water levels in Bavaria’s smaller rivers. The Pettstadt ferry (Bamberg district) currently remains in port due to low water in the Regnitz. And if the Lech continues to flow so poorly, the Canoe World Championships in Augsburg next week are on the brink. According to information from the city, attempts are being made to disconnect the Augsburg Stadtbach and divert it to the competition route so that the World Cup can also take place if there is no rain.
On the other hand, Florian Noé, Managing Director of the Donau-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft in Passau, assesses the level of the Main-Danube Canal as “normally low”. The waterway is lock-controlled and the level can be regulated. In addition, when water levels are low, the large freighters on the Main-Danube Canal have priority over smaller routes such as the Regnitz in terms of water resources. So the heat doesn’t keep the Passau Danube steamers from leaving, but the tourists from their visit, says Noé.