Gauge Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) — current water level and draft
Danube · km 2312.3
Measurement—cm
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Gauge Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) is on the Danube at kilometre 2312.3, on the km 2322–2311.5 stretch. The RNW is 290 cm and the fairway depth maintained below it (TuRNW) is 265 cm; after deducting 30 cm of safety margin the official rule of thumb comes out at Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) -55. In practice Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) -55 is used here. This gauge has 2 forecast sources: the 2-day forecast from Elwis (green) and the 6-week forecast from the BAfG (blue, set the time range to 6 weeks to see it). Upstream lies Pfatter, downstream Pfelling.
Leightering on the Danube (Straubing–Vilshofen)
Because the last 70‑km bottleneck between Straubing and Vilshofen on the Danube was never upgraded, a 250 cm loading draft is possible there on average only ~144 days per year. By contrast, the Rhine at Kaub allows this about ~300 days per year, as does the free‑flowing Austrian Danube. As a result, ships often arrive with too much draft and must transship part of the cargo in Regensburg (downstream) or Passau (upstream) onto additional vessels ("leightering") to reduce draft and pass this stretch. Afterwards, the cargo is often reloaded, or—if the destination is near Passau/Regensburg (e.g., Enns or Kelheim)—they proceed together to the discharge port.