Thailand has for years wanted to build an Asian version of the Panama Canal to bypass the Malacca Strait, but has been unable to do so due to cost and environmental concerns. About 25% of the world's cargo passes through the Malacca Strait. Their new idea is apparently to build a gigantic cargo port on one side of Thailand, another one on the other side, and a massive highway or railroad between them. Ostensibly, this will be useful if India replaces China as the world's global supplier of affordable goods. It seems like this idea will be less efficient (both economically and ecologically) than simply managing traffic more carefully through the Straits. Thailand Pitches $28 Billion Malacca Strait Bypass Project to US (yahoo.com) This part is a little concerning. Umm, does this mean that Thailand will be keeping a third of the cargo?
just read about a single ship paying $2.5M to skip the line at the Panama Canal. don't like these pinch points. seems we need to onshore or nearshore more to decrease the logistical challenges. plenty of inexpensive labor in south/central america, no need to make it in India.
The concern may be that Central & South American countries are slightly dictatorial in management style, and will spend any additional profit on weapons and militarization, making this hemisphere more dangerous. One option might be to expand the Panama Canal, or build a second canal near the first one.
Mexico is building a rail link between the two oceans to take business from the Panama Canal. In Mexico, building a rail rival to the Panama Canal
Not enough water to run the current canal. draining the lake faster isn't going to help. best thing we can do to cut immigration is to develop those economies and near shoring manufacturing would seem to be the best way to do it. we have cut sanctions to let Venezuela go after and export oil again so hopefully that helps to jumpstart their economy and help cut immigration from Venezuela
If we needed to refill the lake, then we (or they) could look at desalinization. Compared to the huge cost of building the canal, it couldn't be that expensive.
Wut? I’ve been on the Canal. That inland lake/waterway is enormous. This drought gas been going on for a while but El Niño isn’t helping matters
I needed a map to understand. I’ve been to Asia a bunch but not in a cargo ship. Apparently a canal through the red dot would make the trip shorter I guess? Or at least less crowded.
