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Thailand looks to cut Malacca Strait shipping time by land link between Indian, Pacific Oceans
Bloomberg
Published: 8:00am, 31 Aug, 2020
Container and cargo ships pass through the Strait of Malacca, the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Photo: Roy Issa
Thailand is looking to construct a land passageway that would connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans, bypassing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The Strait of Malacca, a narrow sea lane along Peninsular Malaysia’s southwest coast and extending east past Singapore, is currently the shortest sea route linking the Asia-Pacific region with India and the Middle East. About a quarter of the world’s traded goods pass through it each year.
“The Strait has become quite congested,” Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob said.
“Using an alternative route through Thailand would cut shipping time by more than two days, which is very valuable for businesses.”
Thailand plans to build two deep seaports on either side of the country’s southern coasts, and link them via highway and rail, according to Saksiam
The 100km “land bridge” would replace an existing proposal to dredge a canal through the isthmus. That would cause too much destruction to the environment, he said.
Ships travel through the Strait of Malacca, the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Photo: Roy Issa
The idea for a canal that would traverse the nation’s narrowest point
and trim the travel distance by 1,200km (745 miles) has been put forward and dismissed several times over the past few decades.
- The highway and rail passageway connecting the two oceans would bypass the congested Strait of Malacca off Malaysia and Singapore
- Thailand says the 100km ‘land bridge’ between two seaports would replace previous plans for a canal, and would cut shipping time by over two days
Bloomberg
Published: 8:00am, 31 Aug, 2020
Container and cargo ships pass through the Strait of Malacca, the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Photo: Roy Issa
Thailand is looking to construct a land passageway that would connect the Indian and Pacific Oceans, bypassing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
The Strait of Malacca, a narrow sea lane along Peninsular Malaysia’s southwest coast and extending east past Singapore, is currently the shortest sea route linking the Asia-Pacific region with India and the Middle East. About a quarter of the world’s traded goods pass through it each year.
“The Strait has become quite congested,” Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob said.
“Using an alternative route through Thailand would cut shipping time by more than two days, which is very valuable for businesses.”
Thailand plans to build two deep seaports on either side of the country’s southern coasts, and link them via highway and rail, according to Saksiam
The 100km “land bridge” would replace an existing proposal to dredge a canal through the isthmus. That would cause too much destruction to the environment, he said.
Ships travel through the Strait of Malacca, the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Photo: Roy Issa
The idea for a canal that would traverse the nation’s narrowest point
and trim the travel distance by 1,200km (745 miles) has been put forward and dismissed several times over the past few decades.
