Will the drought in Europe affect your river cruise vacation?
Cargo ships are worse The terrible news you read about low water levels in Europe, especially along the Rhine, is primarily about Europe's freight sector. "The Rhine is the main artery in France, as well as transport to Germany and Switzerland," says Schreiner. Cargo ships cannot carry general cargo when the water level is low. This is because the weight of the cargo carried by such vessels affects the draft (the distance between the bottom of the vessel and the waterline). Because heavy ships sink in the water, they need more distance from the waterline to the riverbed to navigate safely without scratching the riverbed. If a ship has to lighten its load to cross shallow waters, it can carry less cargo at a time. Companies need more ships to transport the same amount of cargo, and shipping costs are rising, all of which have a negative impact on the European economy. According to Schreiner, at the latest very low water levels in Europe, the economic impact in 2018 was es