Thailand eyes land bridge to link oceans

[reader]

From South China Morning Post

Looks to cut Malacca Strait shipping time by land link between Indian, Pacific Oceans

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.

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 government has approved a 75 million baht (US$2.4 million) budget for a study to examine the construction of two seaports, and another 90 million baht to examine highways and rails linking them, according to Saksiam.

 

[spoon]

Finally a more practical solution instead of the overly ambitious impractical canal. It certainly is a compromise though. Having to unload and load the ship might add to the time that might make journey by ship the normal way more convenient. But any alternatives is good and this project will help more people in the long run. I wonder where this land bridge will be constructed? 

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, spoon said:

Finally a more practical solution instead of the overly ambitious impractical canal. It certainly is a compromise though. Having to unload and load the ship might add to the time that might make journey by ship the normal way more convenient. But any alternatives is good and this project will help more people in the long run. I wonder where this land bridge will be constructed? 

you will see it perhaps but I will not, age has it's disadvantages 

[Guest]

After an enormous container ship has docked, unloaded, had the cargo transported overland and re-loaded the other side, are they actually going to save any shipping time ?     

Then they need to co-ordinate the arrival and departure of ships on each side.     Perhaps they might just gain something if it's combined with consolidation. 

[spoon]

https://tfiglobalnews.com/2022/01/16/after-the-kra-canal-shocker-thailand-gives-a-5-billion-dollar-bri-jolt-to-china/

Seems likes there is some resistance to the canal and train projects