Due to the continued decline in water levels across several Dutch inland waterways, Maersk is updating its Low Water Surcharge (LWS) for inland barge transportation to and from selected inland terminals in the Netherlands.
Recent drought conditions have led to increasing operational constraints on the inland waterway network, including navigation restrictions and the temporary closure of the Twentekanaal, further impacting the efficiency and reliability of inland transportation services.
The surcharge will help address the additional costs associated with these extraordinary circumstances.
Effective Date
The surcharge will be applicable for inland movements performed from 6 October 2026 onwards and will remain in effect until water levels have returned to normal operating conditions.
Application Criteria
The surcharge will be triggered based on water levels at the designated measurement points listed below:
| Inland CY | 20' | 40' | 45' | Measurement Point |
| Hengelo | EUR 25 | EUR 50 | EUR 60 | IJsselkop - Twentekanaal (≤ 2.0m) |
| Almelo | EUR 25 | EUR 50 | EUR 60 | IJsselkop - Twentekanaal (≤ 2.0m) |
| Den Bosch | EUR 15 | EUR 30 | EUR 40 | Sluis Engelen (≤ 2.6m) |
| Nijmegen | EUR 25 | EUR 50 | EUR 60 | Waal (≤ 2.0m) |
| Nijmegen | EUR 45 | EUR 80 | EUR 85 | Waal (≤ 1.75m) |
| Nijmegen | EUR 65 | EUR 120 | EUR 135 | Waal (≤ 1.50m) |
| Roermond | EUR 25 | EUR 50 | EUR 60 | Waal (≤ 2.0m) |
| Venray | EUR 25 | EUR 50 | EUR 60 | Waal (≤ 2.0m) |
Additional Information
Low water conditions reduce the carrying capacity of inland barges and increase operational costs throughout the supply chain. This surcharge is intended to partially offset these extraordinary costs and ensure continued service reliability.
The low water situation is an exceptional and unforeseeable situation that is beyond our control and cannot be predicted, neither severity nor duration. We will do our utmost to manage the cargo flows efficiently throughout.
We appreciate your understanding and support.
Should you have any questions, please contact your local Maersk representative or visit our website for the latest updates.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.