Germany Is Re-Engineering Europe’s Most Important River
The Rhine is Germany’s main economic artery. Keeping it flowing may require new boats, once-taboo locks, and even changing the current of the river itself.
Two shipping brothers on Germany’s Rhine faced a dilemma that has become increasingly common on Europe’s most important river.
With the waters precariously low, Stephen and Torsten Mnich fretted over whether to haul 1,000 tons of potassium salt to a BASF SE chemical plant upriver — a lucrative assignment for the family business. If the level dropped further during the multi-day voyage in mid-August, they risked running aground. It was a toss up, and in the end, they called their mom.