The Elbe Agreement which was initially signed in 2021, between Germany and the Czech Republic has officially come into force since it was ratified by Czech president Petr Pavel. According to the German Inland Navigation Association (Der Bundesverband der Deutschen Binnenschifffahrt e.V. – BDB), the deal paves the way for improved navigability on the Elbe River, a key artery for inland shipping in Central Europe.

The Elbe Agreement stipulates a minimum fairway depth of 140 cm below the current reference water level (GlW 2010) with a variable width between the German-Czech border and the Geesthacht reservoir for at least 345 days a year. These parameters align with those established in the 2017 Elbe Overall Concept (GKE).

BDB Managing Director Jens Schwanen previously emphasized the urgency of implementing the GKE during a hearing before the Bundestag Transport Committee in May 2024. Schwanen highlighted the current limitations on commercial shipping, which is often rendered impossible for nearly five months annually due to low water levels. This, he argued, hinders the full potential of inland waterways for project cargo and freight transportation.

The BDB strongly refutes claims by environmental groups suggesting the Elbe is no longer a viable transport route. They point to the surge in shipping activity following periods of low water as evidence of the river’s role in promoting environmentally friendly modes of transport.

“The BDB urges swift implementation of the overall Elbe concept to unlock the waterway’s full economic potential,” stated the association. They emphasize that environmental protection and transportation interests can coexist, as the shipping industry itself has a vested interest in preventing riverbank erosion and the narrowing of navigation channels.