BUND: Elbe increasingly unusable as a waterway

In view of persistently low water levels, the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND) sees the Elbe as a freight transport route at its end. Since the end of February, the water level has fallen below the required fairway depth of 1.40 meters for inland shipping on more than 120 days a year, according to BUND Saxony. For more than 60 days, the water level was even below one meter - and the summer had only just begun.

Fundamental change in climatic conditions

"Freight shipping on the Elbe is no longer worthwhile," said Felix Ekardt, Chairman of the Saxon state association. Climatic conditions have changed fundamentally, he said, with periods of low water increasing significantly due to global warming. The deepened Elbe is also accelerating the drainage of water and thus exacerbating the drought in the region.

According to BUND, the fairway depth of 1.40 meters is now unattainable for months at a time every year. This makes it extremely difficult to plan transports. The result: falling freight rates and a historic decline in handling volumes.

Rethinking Elbe policy unavoidable

Despite investments of around 430 million euros between 2013 and 2022 for the maintenance and expansion of the waterway, the situation has not improved. "There is not only a lack of water, but also a lack of cargo ships," criticized Ekardt. Further construction measures would not bring any improvement without sufficient water levels, but would cause damage to sensitive ecosystems such as alluvial forests. A rethink of Elbe policy is unavoidable.

On Thursday, the water level on the Elbe in Magdeburg is expected to have fallen to a historic low. At the Strombrücke gauge, 44 centimetres were measured - possibly a new negative record. The previous low was 45 centimetres in summer 2019, although this was an average daily value. According to the Federal Institute of Hydrology, the statistical analysis is still ongoing. However, all indications are that the water level has fallen below the previous low.