Low Rhine levels ground Dutch Melody near Cologne
The river cruise ship, carrying 140 passengers, resumed its journey after receiving assistance from another vessel.
Dutch Cruise Line’s Dutch Melody was grounded near Cologne as falling Rhine River levels continued to disrupt navigation. The ship was carrying 140 passengers when it became stuck.
The local gauge had fallen to just under 16 inches, corresponding to about 4.9 feet of navigable water depth. Another vessel assisted the Dutch Melody, allowing it to continue its journey.
Amsterdam Experiences, which has been monitoring the Rhine’s low-water conditions, said the river was too shallow for sailing at three of five key locations: Maxau, Kaub and Lobith. At Kaub, commonly the shallowest point on the cruise route, the gauge measured 0.06 meters, leaving about 3.9 feet of water in the shipping channel.
Levels were expected to decline further because no significant rainfall was forecast in the near term. The Rhine conditions follow a separate low-water incident in July, when Viking Ullur ran aground on the lower Danube near Vidin, Bulgaria. Bulgarian Border Police assisted with the evacuation of all 186 passengers.