欧洲今年夏季河流水位跌至历史新低，对河轮旅游业造成严重冲击。多瑙河和莱茵河因热浪和降雨减少导致水位暴跌，许多河轮船只与河床之间仅有30厘米的水深[1]。这一危急状况比往年提前出现，通常此类问题会在8月才出现，但今年已在7月初显现，虽然2018年和2022年曾发生过水位中断事件[1]。
低水位导致河轮无法安全通航关键河段和靠岸重要港口。布达佩斯港口因此无法停靠船队，游轮被迫改在距离市区90分钟车程外的港口停靠[1]。7月下旬，一艘河轮在保加利亚多瑙河段搁浅[1]。与此同时，多瑙河河床大幅露出，包括岩石、沙洲、沉船、二战炸弹和猛犸象骨骼等物体浮出水面[1]。游轮公司因此被迫调整航线、更换船只或用大巴替代部分河段，以应对这场旅游业危机[1]。
Europe's major waterways have reached critically low levels this summer, severely hampering river cruise operations across the continent.[1] The Danube and Rhine rivers have experienced dramatic drops in water depth due to heat waves and reduced rainfall, leaving many river cruise vessels with only 30 centimeters of clearance between their hulls and the riverbed.[1]
The crisis emerged earlier than in previous years, with navigational challenges appearing in early July rather than the typical August timeframe.[1] This represents a recurrence of similar disruptions experienced in 2018 and 2022, though the current situation is unfolding ahead of schedule.[1] The shallow conditions have forced cruise operators to make significant operational changes, including rerouting vessels, switching to smaller ships, and substituting bus transportation for water passages.[1]
The low water levels have exposed the riverbed in unexpected ways, revealing rocks, sandbars, shipwrecks, World War II bombs, and mammoth bones.[1] Practical impacts on passenger operations have been substantial: cruise ships have been unable to dock in Budapest, instead requiring passengers to embark and disembark at ports located 90 minutes away by road.[1] In late July, a river cruise vessel ran aground on the Danube in Bulgaria, further illustrating the challenges operators face navigating these unusually shallow waters.[1]