June and July 2023 were the hottest months in Western Europe since temperature records began, according to the EU climate monitoring program "Copernicus."
In light of the ongoing low water levels, inland shipping operators warn of a potential division of the Rhine, as numerous gauge readings are historically low.
The low water levels in the Rhine are leading to a decrease in shipping traffic, forcing companies to rely more on truck transport. Criticism arises from Verdi regarding planned relaxations of the Sunday truck driving ban.
To prevent supply shortages caused by low water levels in the Rhine, several federal states have relaxed the Sunday driving ban for trucks. This primarily affects transports in Rheinland-Pfalz, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Saarland.
Autonomous cargo ships are already operating on the Rhine and some canals, but only with special permits. This raises questions about the future of the industry.
Transport Minister Steffen Bilger is convening a crisis meeting in Bonn while considering lifting the Sunday truck driving ban to facilitate freight transport.
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