The water level in the river Rhine has been officially low for 121 days following the lengthy drought in catchment areas, breaking the previous record set almost 40 years ago.

‘The Netherlands is currently coping with the longest period of low water in the Rhine since 1976,’ the transport ministry’s waterways department said on Tuesday. That year, water levels in the Rhine were officially low for 120 successive days.

The low water level means inland shipping companies are having to adjust their cargo volumes and skippers are being urged to keep a close eye on their vessels.  However, there is still sufficient water to meet industry and domestic needs, the department said.