Berlin’s Rivers Carry Record Freight as Water Logistics Expand in 2025
Berlin’s waterways are handling more freight than ever before. In the first three quarters of 2025, around 1.04 million tons of goods moved along the Spree, Havel, and Dahme rivers—a 14.1% rise compared to the same period last year. The growth reflects a broader shift toward using inland shipping for urban logistics, with coal, petroleum, and natural gas leading the increase, alongside ores, stones, and earth.
Freight transport on Berlin’s rivers has been climbing steadily in recent years. The trend has caught the attention of logistics firms, including DHL, which is expanding its parcel boat network across the city. Since 2022, over 300,000 parcels have already been delivered via a solar-powered boat on the existing western route.
Now, a new route is set to launch in the southeast, connecting Köpenick to Osthafen through multiple districts. This larger, emission-free vessel will carry more shipments, supported by solar-powered parcel stations along the way. Regular operations are expected to start later this year, with the goal of cutting road traffic and speeding up inner-city deliveries. The planning for these additional routes is being coordinated by the Verkehrsmanagementzentrum (VMZ) under the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment. DHL estimates that up to 15% of Berlin’s parcels could eventually move via waterways, easing pressure on congested streets. Yet the rise in shipping activity is creating competition. Freight transport, commercial vessels, and water tourism all now share limited space on the city’s rivers. Balancing these demands remains a challenge for authorities as Berlin’s waterways take on a bigger role in urban logistics.
The expansion of parcel boat routes and the surge in freight volumes highlight the growing importance of Berlin’s rivers for transport. With DHL’s new solar-powered vessel set to begin operations soon, the shift toward water-based deliveries is expected to accelerate. The changes could reduce road congestion while increasing the efficiency of inner-city logistics.
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