Low water strands cargo ship carrying Mercedes vans in Dusseldorf

A cargo ship loaded with Mercedes-Benz vans has run aground in Dusseldorf's harbour, with low water levels preventing it from reaching the Rhine, police said.

The Dutch-flagged vessel has been stuck on a sandbank while trying to leave a harbour basin since Monday.

Water levels are currently too low for a tugboat to safely approach and free the 135-metre vessel, according to the water police.

"Such an attempt would instead risk damaging the vessel," a police spokeswoman said, adding that there was little option but to wait for water levels to rise.

Rhine and harbour traffic has not been affected, as the vessel is blocking only a single harbour basin.

The ship had been loaded with white vans from the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter plant in Dusseldorf and was bound for Rotterdam. None of the vehicles has been damaged, Mercedes-Benz Vans said.

Dry conditions and a lack of rainfall have left the Rhine carrying far less water than usual, forcing cargo vessels to reduce their loads and some ferries to suspend operations.

Logistics company Mosolf said efforts were under way to free the ship using its bow thrusters, after which some vans could be unloaded before another attempt to reach the Rhine later this week.