IJssel restricted to one-way shipping for first time due to low water

Low water levels will restrict shipping on the IJssel between Zutphen and Westervoort from Friday morning, Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) has said. Vessels will only be allowed to travel toward Arnhem because parts of the navigation channel are too shallow and narrow to safely accommodate traffic in both directions.

Parts of the riverbed along the affected stretch between Zutphen and Westervoort have dropped to a depth of 1.45 meters. Ships traveling from Germany to the IJssel will have to take a 300-kilometer detour via Amsterdam and the IJsselmeer because of the restriction.

The Netherlands is still experiencing drought despite weeks of rainfall. The Rhine basin, from which the IJssel branches off, has also received little rain. Water levels in the Rhine have fallen to very low levels in Germany, while the river is also running low at Lobith, where it enters the Netherlands, according to RWS.

This marks the very first time in history that RWS has had to implement a strict one-way traffic mandate on the IJssel river due to low water levels. Rijkswaterstaat said the restriction will remain in effect until water levels in the Rhine rise again.

The low water had already triggered infrastructure problems across the local area during the summer. The Port of Deventer on the IJssel had to close completely in July.