Danube expansion project to improve shipping capacity and flood protection as low water hampers traffic

Germany will begin work this autumn on a major Danube expansion between Deggendorf and Vilshofen. Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger said the €2 billion project will raise the unloading depth for cargo ships by 20 cm, allowing an extra 200 tonnes per vessel and increasing the number of days with sufficient depth from about 144 to 200 per year. The works also focus on flood protection, aiming to shield riverside communities from a 100‑year flood and to enable new construction along the river. Dike construction is slated to start in spring 2027, ending a decades‑long debate over the river’s development.

At the same time, Austria faces an unprecedented low‑water period on the Danube, with levels up to 60 cm below normal. The Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure and the state waterway operator viadonau have stepped up measures, investing €30 million annually in maintenance, new “flexible infrastructure” and cross‑border cooperation. Cargo traffic has slowed sharply, with a projected 25 % drop in freight volumes similar to the 2018 low‑water year, while passenger cruises are also severely limited.