ZIM wants to inform that due to the prolonged drought in Europe, water levels on the Rhine River are lowering, restricting the amounts of cargo loaded to barges.
As a result, barge owners are imposing Low Water Surcharge, which is the common practice in this trade.
The surcharge is applied to all barge and barge-road shipments between the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam and destinations in Germany, France and Switzerland via the Rhine River.
Shippers or Receivers are debited according to the daily tariff, published by the barge operators according to the day of loading on board the barge.
Current LWS level is presented below:
| Lower Rhine destinations | ||
| Water level | 20′ | 40′ |
| 2.70 – 2.51 M | € 25 | € 35 |
| 2.50 – 2.21 M | € 45 | € 65 |
| 2.20 – 2.01 M | € 65 | € 85 |
| 2.00 – 1.81 M | € 90 | € 110 |
| ≤ 1.80 M | in mutual agreement | |
| Middle / Upper Rhine destinations | ||
| Water level | 20′ | 40′ |
| 1.50 – 1.31 M | € 30 | € 40 |
| 1.30 – 1.11 M | € 45 | € 60 |
| 1.10 – 1.01 M | € 60 | € 75 |
| 1.00 – 0.91 M | € 80 | € 100 |
| 0.90 – 0.81 M | € 100 | € 135 |
| 0.80 – 0.71 M | in mutual agreement | |
| 0.70 – 0.61 M | in mutual agreement | |
| 0.60 – 0.51 M | in mutual agreement | |
| ≤ 0.50 M | in mutual agreement | |
