Berlin, Aug 20 (IANS): The water level on the Rhine river, which has been sinking during an extended period of dry weather, increased by several centimetres in western Germany on Saturday, according to official figures.

At Kaub, between the cities of Mainz and Koblenz in the west of the country, the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) said the benchmark water level was at 44 cm on Saturday morning, up from 35 cm at noon on Friday, reports dpa news agency.

Amid the dry weather, the low water levels are affecting how much cargo ships can transport along the waterway.

WSV data showed that the actual depth of the channel at Kaub was 1.45 metres on Friday.

Officials said that projections indicate that the water level could rise to 1.50 metres by Tuesday and then start sinking again.

Kaub in Rhineland-Palatinate state is an important interface for shipping on the Rhine.

The water levels there are of particular importance because the river is very shallow at this point.

Freight and passenger ships have been struggling with low water levels for weeks.

Skippers have had to take the draught of the ship into account when loading their cargo.

At low water levels they can carry less freight, and at some point transport by river becomes uneconomical.

The goods would then have to be taken by road or rail.