Due to the rapid decline in the water level along the Rhine River, barge operators have started to levy a Low Water Surcharge (LWS). MSC took the lead in announcing that after the water level of the Rhine River dropped below 150 cm, it would pass on the LWS levied by its barge operator partners for services to and from Antwerp and Rotterdam to customers.

Last year, the water level of the Rhine River dropped to 32 cm, forcing the closure of the Rhine River. Although the current water level is far from reaching last years level, due to the reduction in transportation capacity, the arrival at the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam cannot be guaranteed. In addition, all costs incurred under such circumstances, such as detention fees, demurrage fees, and storage fees, are not borne by MSC.

The Rhine River is divided into four sections: Duisburg, Emmerich, Kaub, and Cologne. The transportation capacity of each section may be different. The transportation capacity of Kaub is less than 81 cm, and the carriers obligation to transport along the Duisburg section terminates when the water level is 181 cm.

MSC pointed out that the low water surcharge only applies to domestic and international transport via barge or barge-road transport along the Rhine from Antwerp and Rotterdam to Germany, France and Switzerland. Feeder services between Antwerp and Rotterdam are unaffected.

Cargo owners have become accustomed to the chaos in the European inland transportation industry, and congestion often lasts for several days. A former barge owner said that the news of surcharges only added to the difficulties that cargo owners hoping to use European transportation are trying to solve and added that the entire industry is still in a serious crisis.

According to sources, in Belgium alone, more than 275 transportation companies (mainly trucking companies) have applied for bankruptcy this year. The inland shipping industry faces many challenges, such as an oversupply of vessels and a decline in transportation demand. This has led to a drop in freight rates.,

However, the former shipowner pointed out that although the volume of cargo transportation has declined, the container transportation capacity has significantly increased by 10.95%, the 11th consecutive year of growth, and said that barge operators need to strive to improve efficiency.

They said: There is no doubt that the low water level of the Rhine River will lead people to turn to road transportation - the railway cannot handle such a large volume of transportation - which will exacerbate the already severely congested road network.,