Thailand's Land Bridge Idea

chemgator · Nov 14, 2023

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)

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told investors in San Francisco on Monday that the project can cut travel time by an average of four days and lower shipping costs by 15%. With traffic volumes projected to exceed the Malacca Strait’s capacity by 2030, the new project will ensure seamless flow of goods, he said.

The so-called Landbridge project will cost about 1 trillion baht ($28 billion), with seaports to be built on either side of the country’s southern peninsula and linked by highway and rail networks, according to the government. The 100-kilometer (62-mile) connection would replace a decades-old Thai proposal to dredge a canal through the Kra Isthmus.

The Malacca Strait — a narrow sea lane between Malaysia and Singapore — is the shortest sea route linking the Asia-Pacific region to India and the Middle East. About a quarter of the world’s traded goods pass through the strait and it will only become busier, pushing up shipping costs, Srettha said, noting that there are more than 60 maritime accidents a year on average in the passage.
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This part is a little concerning.

The port on the west will have capacity to handle 19.4 million ton equivalent units, while the eastern one is designed for 13.8 million TEUs, together accounting for about 23% of the Port of Malacca’s total cargo, he said.
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Umm, does this mean that Thailand will be keeping a third of the cargo?

G8trGr8t · Nov 14, 2023

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.

chemgator · Nov 17, 2023

G8trGr8t said: ↑

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.
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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.

chemgator · Nov 17, 2023

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

At Mexico's narrowest point, linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the government is building a railway rival to the Panama Canal with promises of economic bounty but amid fears of environmental and social harm.

The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes already dreamed of such a crossing for humans and goods in the 16th century, but most plans came to naught and a prior, rudimentary connection was all but abandoned with the opening of the canal cutting through Panama in 1914.

Then, in 2020, work started on a new coast-to-coast link under the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

It comprises a 300-kilometer (186-mile) railway line from the Pacific port of Salina Cruz to Coatzacoalcos on the other side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec -- a region rich in biodiversity and Indigenous heritage.
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G8trGr8t · Nov 17, 2023

chemgator said: ↑

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.
Click to expand...

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

chemgator · Nov 17, 2023

G8trGr8t said: ↑

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
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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.

Sohogator · Nov 17, 2023

chemgator said: ↑

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.
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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

GatorJMDZ · Nov 18, 2023

G8trGr8t said: ↑

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
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The new sections of the canal can reclaim up to 80% of the water.

GatorJMDZ · Nov 18, 2023

chemgator said: ↑

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.
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Not nearly that easy.

chemgator · Nov 18, 2023

GatorJMDZ said: ↑

Not nearly that easy.
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I didn't say it would be easy or cheap--I just said it would be possible.

citygator · Nov 18, 2023

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.

GatorJMDZ · Nov 18, 2023

Shades of the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

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