Shipping companies prepare for worst as Rhine levels near critical low

The Maeuseturm (mice tower) in the middle of the river Rhine in Bingen, Germany (Michael Probst/AP)

Shipping companies prepared to halt the transport of goods on the Rhine as water levels in Germany’s biggest river neared a critically low point on Saturday.

An ongoing drought affecting much of Europe has lowered rivers such as the Rhine, preventing large ships with heavy loads from passing key waypoints and forcing them to use smaller vessels or to split cargoes into multiple shipments.