Rhine river water levels drop due to heat waves, threatening European fuel and raw material supply chains (xataka.com)

• Rhine water levels fall, barges load only 30-50% capacity
• Bottleneck at Kaub, Germany forces cargo reduction
• Causes: spring drought, reduced Alpine snowmelt
• EU Joint Research Centre warns of more frequent low-water events
• Adaptation: AI forecasting and flat-bottomed barges

"Extreme heat in Europe has caused Rhine water levels to fall sharply, forcing barges to reduce cargo loads to 30-50% capacity. The critical bottleneck at Kaub, Germany, disrupts transport of coal, oil, chemicals, and automotive parts. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre warns that low-water events will become more frequent due to climate change. Proposed solutions include AI-driven forecasting and flat-bottomed vessels."