Inland waterways are increasingly subject to escalating climate risks, with cargo transport and other inland waterway operations at growing risk of worsening developments.

This is the warning from international freight and cargo handling insurer TT Club, whose own historical data points to a continuing rise in claims from weather-related losses over the last ten years. These result from numerous types of damage from navigational and berthing accidents, to collapse of cranes and port equipment collisions, as well as flood damage to buildings and infrastructure.

In 2024 European waterways experienced significant disruption to cargo transport. In June the Rhine suffered from extreme weather conditions with torrential rain leading to severe flooding in southern Germany. Cargo handling was interrupted to and from Switzerland and caused substantial delays in inland traffic between the Lower and Upper Rhine.

At the same time, increased droughts have led to record low water levels on major rivers with some vessels carrying only 25% of their usual load to avoid running aground and causing delays. Shipping lines have had to switch cargo from river to rail to maintain connections between industrial regions and the ports.

Neil Dalus of TT’s Loss Prevention Department says climate change effects on river navigation are significant as it is highly sensitive to changes in weather patterns and long-term climate trends.

“This challenge highlights the vulnerability of Europe's inland waterway transport system, emphasising the need for infrastructure improvements, planning for risk mitigation and workforce training to ensure operational resilience," he added. “As a result of operational delays reputational damage can occur. Emergency supplies and additional labour costs can accrue and increased maintenance, training and management downtime have to be factored in."

TT is working with inland waterway operators to devise loss prevention strategies to help minimise the future costly consequences of weather-related incidents.

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