Gauge Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand): current water level and draft

Danube · km 2312.3

Measurement238cm05:15 · −3 cm/24hRule of thumb—cmDraft—cm

Water level at the Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) gauge

On 25/10/2026 at 05:15 the Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) gauge read 238 cm, 3 cm lower than 24 hours earlier. Source: PEGELONLINE (WSV).

Gauge Pfelling (Straubing Hafen Sand) is on the Danube at kilometre 2312.3, on the km 2322–2311.5 stretch.

Fairway depth and rule of thumb

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.

The fairway depth below RNW is what counts as long as no Fehltiefen are reported. Fehltiefen (shortfalls in fairway depth) are published on ELWIS Fehltiefen. The safety margin is not a statutory value and has to be taken on top of the reduced fairway depth listed there.

Forecasts and neighbouring gauges

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.

Rules of thumb per gauge and port ›