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Phoenix666 [soylentnews.org] writes:

Phys.org [phys.org]:

The docks are eerily quiet at Cologne's main port on the mighty River Rhine, with hundreds of containers piled up and awaiting their journey north on one of Europe's busiest commercial arteries.

Months of scarce rainfall and hot sunny weather drove water levels on the Rhine to a record low, forcing ship operators to suspend services to keep vessels from running aground.

"We haven't had any new ships in Cologne since last week—they stop in Duisburg" 80 kilometres (50 miles) north, Oliver Grossmann, head of shipping company CTS, told AFP.

He said that under normal conditions, "three or four" of his big vessels would stop each day in the city known for its Gothic cathedral.

The few barges still chugging along the river have had to drastically reduce their cargo to stay afloat.

They should ship the containers by zeppelins instead.

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