a fall into such an extent that normal shipping is no longer possible that some gas stations feel is also growing scare us. commercial traffic on the rhine is drifting towards a crisis in cologne water levels have dropped to one meter usually the river is three meters deep here it s one of europe s most important shipping arteries and some of the largest in one ports in the world could be found on its banks logistical hubs are trying to cope but problems are mounting. in peter to sinking water levels on the rhine have made it difficult to load barges and the individual ships that are loaded have to take less because the river has grown so shallow so we re losing more and more shipping capacity and the situation has grown much worse in the last few months more not. offered them at this fresh less that companies like to some cook and b.s.f. are feeling the pinch supplies of raw materials are becoming scarce they ve already