SIMIC

The water levels are dropping due to hot temperatures and lack of rainfall in the region.

Ships could not move through the key waterway fully loaded, with transport minister Volker Wissing calling for the river to be dredged.

Long term, Mr Wissing declared it was necessary "to shift more traffic from road to rail and waterways".

Mr Wissing stated that the planned dredging of the Rhine was the project from a recent German government study into long-term travel strategy.

"We need to eliminate bottlenecks on the Rhine at certain points. We need the waterway," said Mr Wissing said.

The investment would cost US$183 million, while 40 per cent would be for accompanying ecological measures.

Mr Wissing already campaigned for the deepening of the Rhine between St Goar and Mainz. It would allow ships to carry 200 tons more cargo.

Said Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) economic expert Jils Jannsen: "In 2018, when navigation on the Rhine was last hampered by low water for an extended period, industrial production decreased by about 1.5 per cent at its peak,"

"It could be an additional burden that shipping is a relatively important means of transporting energy commodities."