The Federal Association of Inland Shipping (BDB) is calling for greater government support for goods transport, particularly in periods of severe drought and low water levels.
While efforts are underway to convert existing inland vessels for operation when water levels are low, BDB CEO Jens Schwanen informed Spiegel that the federal government still fails to fund the acquisition and construction of ships specifically optimized for low-water navigation. He noted that this vital support has been overlooked within the complex aid structure of both federal and state levels, yet it would significantly help accelerate the modernization of the fleet.
The financial burden of new vessels has become substantial; the price of a modern inland ship has risen from four or five million euros to approximately seven or eight million euros in recent years, making new purchases financially unattractive. Furthermore, specialized low-water ships have inherent limitations when water is plentiful. For instance, some specialized vessels can be up to 15 meters wide-nearly a quarter wider than standard barges-restricting their movement on certain canals, according to Schwanen.
Consequently, state seed funding is considered highly welcome. However, the challenge lies in the fact that this type of funding falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, led by Katherina Reiche (CDU), rather than the Federal Ministry of Transport.
