Table 4

Observed impact and linkage type for each disruptive event

Disruptive eventLinkage typeObserved impactAnalytical level
Rhine-Danube floods 2023DirectSuspension of inland waterway shipping on Rhine and Danube (F2, F14, F20)Transport network
Rail line closures and delays (F10, F13, F24)Transport network
Insufficient bridge clearance due to high water, preventing vessel passage (incl. traffic to Switzerland) (F20)Transport network
Critical river gauge thresholds exceeded, triggering precautionary stoppages (F8, F14)Transport network
Flooded roads and impassable street sections in affected regions (F10, F25)Transport network
Inundation of lower urban embankments along the Danube (e.g. Budapest riverfront) (F18, F19)Transport network
Navigation speed restrictions and special sailing rules on Rhine (even where not fully closed) (F8, F14)Transport network
Reduced barge capacity at Kaub (D8, D15, D19)Transport network
InteractingDelays in coal, oil, grain, and feed deliveries (modal dependency) (F1, F15, F20)Supply chain
Increased pressure on alternative modes (rail/road) due to inland waterway disruption (F1, F2, F20)Transport network
Temporary fuel shortages (fuel logistics dependency) (F1, F20)Supply chain
Co-occurringEvacuations and infrastructure outages (F3, F7, F8, F9)Society
Fallen trees and physical damage to buildings affecting accessibility and safety (F25)Society
Preventive removal/relocation of vehicles from flood-risk areas (F18, F19)Society
Prolonged emergency management and disaster-response operations (F3, F9, F21)Society
Large-scale flood alert and emergency readiness over long river sections (∼1,200 km) (F18, F19)Society
Rhine droughts 2022DirectSections temporarily closed/“navigation halted” for some vessels due to critically low levels (D8, D15, D19)Transport network
Operational adaptation in fleet/technology (e.g. specialized vessels for low water) (D9, D19)Transport network
Freight rates/surcharges increase on inland waterways (cost shock driven by low water) (D8, D13, D15, D22)Transport network
Shift pressure to rail and road transport (capacity substitution) (D1, D3, D16, D23)Transport network
InteractingCoal trains being prioritised on the German railway network (D5)Transport network
Disruptions in chemical, steel, coal industries (bulk transport dependency) (D1, D7, D9, D17, D25)Supply chain
Higher logistics costs for shippers (knock-on cost increase beyond waterways) (D10, D16, D21, D22, D24)Supply chain
Delivery delays/supply bottlenecks caused by constrained inland shipping (D16, D17, D25)Supply chain
Industrial production adjustments (e.g. changes in sourcing, routing, inventory strategy) (D1, D3, D9, D25)Supply chain
Fuel shortages at petrol stations (distribution constraints) (D16, D21, D22)Society
Drought framed as part of recurring/extreme low-water pattern (climate/stressor context) (D6, D7, D12, D19)Society
Co-occurringBroader macro-economic concern (trade/economy at risk due to Rhine constraints) (D2, D5, D10, D11, D20, D24)Society
Heightened public concern about energy prices (D1, D2, D25)Society
Port strikes Finland 2024DirectHalted cargo handling at ports (S6, S11, S12, S20)Transport network
Rail freight disruptions/cargo rail affected alongside ports (S6, S11, S17)Transport network
Prioritisation of “essential” cargo while other goods wait (selective unloading/triage) (S8)Transport network
Rerouting of vessels to other European ports (S2, S8)Transport network
Shutdowns in pulp and paper mills (export dependency) (S4, S10, S19)Supply chain
InteractingShortages/stock-outs in retail channels for some goods (availability issues) (S9)Society
Supply chain delays and backlog accumulation (containers stuck at sea/other European ports; delays potentially weeks–months) (S4, S8, S17)Supply chain
Wage payment suspensions/temporary layoffs due to production stoppage and logistics paralysis (S4, S21)Supply chain and society
Airport fuel logistics disruption risk (jet-fuel deliveries interrupted) (S1, S3)Transport network
Refinery operations threatened (risk of production halt from logistics/storage constraints) (S25, S22)Supply chain
Export/import disruption explicitly targeted (trade flow disruption as strike mechanism) (S3, S22, S23, S24)Supply chain
Fuel shortages affecting public transport (fuel distribution dependency) (S16, S17)Society
Co-occurringPolitical polarisation and public debate (S3, S21, S22, S23, S24)Society
War in Ukraine from 2022DirectBlockage of Black Sea ports (W17, W18, W20)Transport network
Trade rerouting away from blocked/contested maritime lanes (route changes, new pathways) (W2, W22)Transport network
Abandonment of Northern rail corridor (W13, W14, W19)Transport network
Energy supply disruptions in Europe (geopolitical dependency) (W9, W21, W24, W25)Supply chain
InteractingFuel/natural gas market stress and price impacts (global gas market consequences) (W9, W25)Supply chain
Truck driver shortage worsened/compounded (labour availability constraint) (W11, W12)Transport network and supply chain
Inflation amplification via supply-chain disruption and rerouting (W23)Society
Market interventions/EU response measures affecting markets (W21)Society and supply chain
Food supply shocks and price volatility (global supply dependency) (W10, W15, W16, W17, W18)Society
Refugee flows and humanitarian knock-on effects (societal pressure) (W15)Society
Co-occurringCost-of-living pressures (W3, W6, W23)Society
Geopolitical volatility (W3, W10, W25)Society
Source(s): Authors' own work

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