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Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Germany News

12 Jun 2025

Most G7 Members Ready to Lower Russian Oil Price Cap Despite US Engagement

© Adobe Stock/Maksym Yemelyanov

Most countries in the Group of Seven nations are prepared to go it alone and lower the G7 price cap on Russian oil even if U.S. President Donald Trump decides to opt out, four sources familiar with the matter said.G7 country leaders are due to meet on June 15-17 in Canada where they will discuss the price cap first agreed in late 2022. The cap was designed to allow Russian oil URL-E to be sold to third countries using Western insurance services provided the price was no more than…

22 Apr 2025

Rhine River: Ships Able to Increase Loads After Rise in Water Levels

Rain over the Easter weekend in Germany has raised Rhine river water levels, with vessels able to carry more cargo. Credit: Adobe Stock/Pecold

Rain over the Easter weekend in Germany has raised Rhine river water levels, with vessels able to carry more cargo, though the river is still too shallow for normal sailings, commodity traders said on Tuesday.Extreme lack of rain in March and April resulted in low water levels hampering April shipping on all of the river south of Duisburg and Cologne, including the chokepoint of Kaub, traders said.In northern regions around Duisburg vessels were able to sail about 80% full, against only half full last week…

17 Apr 2025

Rhine River: Rising Levels Allow For Increased Shipping Capacity

Rain in past few days has raised Rhine river water levels in Germany, with vessels able to carry more cargo. Credit: Adobe Stock/gehapromo

Rain in past few days has raised Rhine river water levels in Germany, with vessels able to carry more cargo although most are still sailing around half full, commodity traders said on Thursday."Large volumes of rain have fallen in the Rhine region in past days and there has been an improvement in the low water problem," one trader said. "More rain is forecast and if it actually arrives, the parts of the Rhine could see a significant recovery next week, although water is still…

14 Apr 2025

German Court to Review Seizure of Russian "Shadow Fleet" Tanker

A German court will weigh a request to release a seized oil tanker that is believed to be part of a so-called shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Germany's finance ministry said on Monday.The Panama-flagged vessel, the Eventin, was found drifting out of control off Germany's Baltic Sea coast in January.

10 Apr 2025

Rhine Shipping Costs Rise as River Level Falls Further

Freight shipping costs on the Rhine river in Germany surged this week as water levels fell further, compelling vessels to sail less than half full. Credit: Adobe Stock/tina7si

Freight shipping costs on the Rhine river in Germany surged this week as water levels fell further, compelling vessels to sail less than half full, commodity traders said on Thursday.Freight deliveries were still taking place, with loads divided among more vessels, which increases costs for cargo owners. But rain is at last forecast for next week, which could raise river levels, they said.Prices for a tanker freighter sailing from Rotterdam to Karlsruhe rose to about 80 euros ($88.58) a tonne of cargo from 46 euros last week and 34 euros in late March…

03 Apr 2025

Low Waters Hinder Rhine River Shipping

Low water levels after recent dry weather are preventing cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the Rhine river in Germany. Credit: Adobe Stock/Markus Kämpfer

Low water levels after recent dry weather are preventing cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the Rhine river in Germany, with cargo owners facing higher transport costs, commodity traders said on Thursday (April 3).Extreme lack of rain in March and April means low water is hampering shipping on all the river south of Duisburg and Cologne, including the chokepoint of Kaub, with levels falling again this week, traders said.Shallow water means vessel operators impose surcharges on freight rates to compensate for vessels not sailing fully loaded, increasing costs for cargo owners.

11 Mar 2025

German Maritime Fleet: Resilient Strength in Turbulent Times

Copyright Calado/AdobeStock

Germany’s maritime industry is proving resilient amid global economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical priorities. At the annual conference of the German Shipowners' Association (VDR), statistics underscore the sector's role in securing trade, employment, and economic stability. Despite mounting challenges, German merchant shipping remains a powerhouse—supporting nearly half a million jobs and ensuring the steady flow of essential goods into and out of the country.A Maritime PowerhouseGermany boasts a fleet of 1,764 ships, ranking it seventh among global merchant shipping nations.

19 Nov 2024

Germany Preps for More FSRU Vessels

Copyright Timon/AdobeStock

Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply. Following are updates on key facilities and terminals being developed to host floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and hydrogen.STADEState-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) has said in German media reports that FSRUs at both Stade and Wilhelmshaven 2 will start operations before the winter, without specifying precise commissioning dates.

27 Jun 2024

GEFO Upgrades Tanker at Strela Shiprepair

Image courtesy Strela Shiprepair Yard

Hamburg-based GEFO Gesellschaft für Oeltransporte mbH had an oil and product tanker from its fleet of 148 serviced and modernized at the Strela Shiprepair Yard in Stralsund for the first time. The 99 x 14 meter oil and product tanker Brahms was docked at Strela Shiprepair's premises in the Volkswerft Maritime Industrial and Commercial Park at the end of May.Brahms, which has a cargo volume of 4178 tons, was scheduled for the so-called intermediate class, meaning that extensive maintenance work had to be carried out in the shortest possible time during its stay at the shipyard.