Rhine ferry company W. Jansen & Söhne reports short-time work

Severe low water levels on the Rhine have forced the ferry company W. Jansen & Söhne, which operates between Düsseldorf and the district of Zons in Dormagen, to apply for short-time work for the first time in its history.

Owner Jens Jansen reported that the ferry has experienced more than 40 days of downtime this year, nearing the previous record of 46 days set in 2018. While recent rainfall helped resume operations in late August, a lack of precipitation in southern Germany has prevented the water levels from returning to normal. The company, run by a family including Jens, his father, and his brother, is facing financial strain as the prolonged service interruptions erode their savings.