The Yangtze water level at Wuhan Customs at 8am on 2 January stood at 14.56 metres, the lowest level since the dry season started in November and a fall of 9.65 metres from the peak tide on 9 August. The navigable water level guaranteed by the Yangtze Waterway Bureau has been reduced to 3.2 metres, suitable for vessels of 3,000dwt. During the wet summer season, the guaranteed water level is usually 4.5 metres, allowing the passage of vessels of 5,000dwt.
The middle reaches of the Yangtze have historically been difficult to maintain due to the numerous shoals and shallows. The completion of the Three Gorges Dam has improved shipping conditions in the upper reaches but has made the maintenance of the middle reaches even more complicated as the regular cycle of storing and releasing the water is changing the features of the river bed. Wuhan’s new low water level is closely monitored by the local government and businesses alike as the city strives to emerge as a regional hub.