The Rhine water level is the lowest since measurements began to be recorded. At the Kaub chokepoint, the level is eight centimeters. 30 cm is the required measure to keep a ship from running aground. This is 17 centimeters below the previous low from the drought year of 2018.
A personal observation of the river near Wiesbaden revealed there were no ships on the usually busy Rhine. Ships sailing below Kaub are carrying a fraction of their normal capacity, while some shippers have stopped altogether because of the high cost.
