nuOct 3, 2026, 14:24

Inland vessel stranded by low water on the Rhine is sailing again

The cargo ship Terra 2 has resumed its journey on the Rhine after being stranded for several days on a sandbank caused by record-low water levels. After partially offloading its cargo of Mercedes-Benz vans in Düsseldorf, the vessel was able to navigate the river again as water levels saw a slight increase.

An inland vessel named Terra 2, carrying Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans from a factory in Düsseldorf, has resumed its journey after being stranded on the Rhine river. The 135-meter-long ship became stuck on a sandbank on Monday due to historically low water levels in the river. Initial attempts to refloat the vessel by adjusting its cargo and using an anchor winch were unsuccessful. It was eventually freed after another cargo ship pushed it off the bank while departing the local port.

Following the incident, the Terra 2 returned to the port of Düsseldorf to offload a portion of its cargo, which helped decrease its weight and draft. With the water levels in the Rhine showing a slight improvement, the vessel has now successfully departed the port to continue its transport route. Low water conditions have been a significant issue recently, with record-low levels reported at Lobith just this past Sunday.

Economy Netherlands World

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Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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