Thai canal
Encyclopedia
The Thai Canal refers to a plan for a large canal that would cut through southern Thailand
to enable improved transportation in the region, like the Panama Canal
and Suez Canal
.
, which would shorten shipping times around Asia, was suggested as early as 1677. The Thai King Narai
the Great asked the French engineer de Lamar to survey the possibility of building a waterway to connect Songkhla
with Marid (now Myanmar), but the idea was discarded as impractical with the technology of that time. In 1793, the idea resurfaced; the younger brother of King Chakri
(Rama I) suggested it would make it easier to protect the western coast with military ships. In the early 18th century, the British East India Company
became interested in a canal. After Burma became a British colony in 1863 with Victoria Point
opposite the Kra estuary as its southernmost point, an exploration was undertaken, again with negative result. In 1882, the constructor of the Suez canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps
, visited the area, but wasn't allowed to investigate in detail by the Thai king. In 1897, Thailand and the British empire agreed not to build a canal there, to protect the regional dominance of the harbour of Singapore
.
was only 64 m (210 ft) above sea level. The Panama Canal passes this point at a height of 12 m (39.4 ft) (canal bottom) and 26 m (85.3 ft) (water line), thus ships have to be lifted with locks to a height of 26 m (85.3 ft) above the ocean. The Suez Canal is 192 km (119.3 mi) long but passes entirely through a flat area (which was historically flooded by seas before).
The length on land of a proposed Thai Canal could be anywhere between 50 kilometre depending on the route chosen.
At a depth of 25 m (82 ft) below sea level the width of the Kra Isthmus is about 200 km (124.3 mi).
By 50 m (164 ft) below sea level this becomes about 400 km (248.5 mi).
near Surat Thani
with Phangnga. A Japanese plan for a canal in 1985 would have used over twenty nuclear devices each roughly twice the explosive energy of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The latest proposed site is across Nakhon Si Thammarat
and Trang
provinces. If finished, it is believed that the canal would bring an economic boost to the nearby area and the whole country. The canal would compete directly with ports in the Strait of Malacca
area, including Port Klang
and Singapore
. As such, there is a long standing rumor in the region that Singapore and Malaysia have been trying very hard to prevent the construction of the project by bribing Thai officials to vote against the construction of the project in the Bangkok parliament. The conspiracy theory is widely believed given the incentive that both of these countries have in protecting their own economy and industries who stand to lose a substantial sum of business if the project was erected.
As a substitute the construction of a land bridge was started in 1993, however as the location of the harbors wasn't fixed, highway 44
as the only finished part of the project now does not end at the sea yet. The two lanes were built 150 m apart to leave space for a railroad and eventually also a pipeline. Right now the highway runs from 8°18.11′N 98°47.03′E to 9°9.47′N 99°31.02′E and the project is stalled due to environmental concerns.
This is also a reason for recent interest in the canal. The Strait of Malacca
, just under 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) long, is narrow, less than 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) at the narrowest, and just 25 metres (82 ft) deep at its shallowest point. It is heavily used by oil tankers and bulk carriers. Some 80 percent of Japan's oil supplies pass through the Straits. Any planned canal in Thailand would mean that large ships could travel through the region from India and on to China and Japan without passing through the pirate-infested Strait of Malacca.
In 2005 an internal report prepared for U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
was leaked to The Washington Times
, spelling out China's strategy of underwriting construction of the canal across the Kra Isthmus complete with Chinese port facilities and refineries, as part of its "string of pearls
" strategy of forward bases and energy security
. The Chinese plan called for construction over ten years employing roughly 30,000 workers and costing between 20 and 25 billion American dollars.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to enable improved transportation in the region, like the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
.
History
A canal through the Kra IsthmusKra Isthmus
The Kra Isthmus is the narrow land bridge which connects the Malay Peninsula with the mainland of Asia, and popularly named "The Devil's Neck".-Geography:...
, which would shorten shipping times around Asia, was suggested as early as 1677. The Thai King Narai
Narai
Somdet Phra Narai or Somdet Phra Ramathibodi III was the king of Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688 and arguably the most famous Ayutthayan king. His reign was the most prosperous during the Ayutthaya period and saw the great commercial and diplomatic activities with foreign nations including the...
the Great asked the French engineer de Lamar to survey the possibility of building a waterway to connect Songkhla
Songkhla
Songkhla is a city in the Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. As of 2006 it had a population of 75,048...
with Marid (now Myanmar), but the idea was discarded as impractical with the technology of that time. In 1793, the idea resurfaced; the younger brother of King Chakri
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
(Rama I) suggested it would make it easier to protect the western coast with military ships. In the early 18th century, the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
became interested in a canal. After Burma became a British colony in 1863 with Victoria Point
Kawthaung
Kawthaung is in the southernmost part of Myanmar, located in Tanintharyi Region. During British rule in Burma between 1824 and 1948, it was known as Victoria Point.- History :...
opposite the Kra estuary as its southernmost point, an exploration was undertaken, again with negative result. In 1882, the constructor of the Suez canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps
Ferdinand de Lesseps
Ferdinand Marie, Vicomte de Lesseps, GCSI was the French developer of the Suez Canal, which joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas in 1869, and substantially reduced sailing distances and times between the West and the East.He attempted to repeat this success with an effort to build a sea-level...
, visited the area, but wasn't allowed to investigate in detail by the Thai king. In 1897, Thailand and the British empire agreed not to build a canal there, to protect the regional dominance of the harbour of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Geography
The width of the Kra Isthmus at its minimum is only 44 km (27.3 mi), but the height of the interior mountain chain is 75 m (246.1 ft) above sea level. Compare this to the Panama Canal: length of 77 km (47.8 mi), but highest point at the Gaillard CutGaillard Cut
The Gaillard Cut, or Culebra Cut, is an artificial valley that cuts through the continental divide in Panama. The cut forms part of the Panama Canal, linking Lake Gatún, and thereby the Atlantic Ocean, to the Gulf of Panama and hence the Pacific Ocean...
was only 64 m (210 ft) above sea level. The Panama Canal passes this point at a height of 12 m (39.4 ft) (canal bottom) and 26 m (85.3 ft) (water line), thus ships have to be lifted with locks to a height of 26 m (85.3 ft) above the ocean. The Suez Canal is 192 km (119.3 mi) long but passes entirely through a flat area (which was historically flooded by seas before).
The length on land of a proposed Thai Canal could be anywhere between 50 kilometre depending on the route chosen.
At a depth of 25 m (82 ft) below sea level the width of the Kra Isthmus is about 200 km (124.3 mi).
By 50 m (164 ft) below sea level this becomes about 400 km (248.5 mi).
Recent developments
In the 20th century the idea resurfaced several times again, now changing the preferred route to somewhere in Southern Thailand, to connect the Bandon BayBandon Bay
Bandon Bay is a bay in the Gulf of Thailand in the Surat Thani Province, extending from the Sui cape in Chaiya district in the northwest to the Kanchanadit district to the east. The total coastline is about 100 km. The bay is dominated by the estuary of the rivers Tapi and Phum Duang...
near Surat Thani
Surat Thani
Surat Thani is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It is the capital of the province Surat Thani. The city has a population of 128,179 , and an area of 68.97 square kilometers. The city's population density is 1,858.47 inhabitants per km².Suran Thani is...
with Phangnga. A Japanese plan for a canal in 1985 would have used over twenty nuclear devices each roughly twice the explosive energy of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The latest proposed site is across Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand...
and Trang
Trang Province
Trang is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the western shore of the Malay Peninsula to the Andaman Sea. Neighboring provinces are Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Satun....
provinces. If finished, it is believed that the canal would bring an economic boost to the nearby area and the whole country. The canal would compete directly with ports in the Strait of Malacca
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is named after the Malacca Sultanate that ruled over the archipelago between 1414 to 1511.-Extent:...
area, including Port Klang
Port Klang
Port Klang is a town and the main gateway by sea into Malaysia. Colonially known as Port Swettenham, it is also the location of the largest and busiest port in the country. As such, its economic progress has been greatly influenced by the port activities in its area...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. As such, there is a long standing rumor in the region that Singapore and Malaysia have been trying very hard to prevent the construction of the project by bribing Thai officials to vote against the construction of the project in the Bangkok parliament. The conspiracy theory is widely believed given the incentive that both of these countries have in protecting their own economy and industries who stand to lose a substantial sum of business if the project was erected.
As a substitute the construction of a land bridge was started in 1993, however as the location of the harbors wasn't fixed, highway 44
Thailand Route 44
Route 44 is part of land bridge project. It starts at intersection with Route 4 in Krabi Province, running northeast, and ends at intersection with Route 401 in Surat Thani Province.-Route Details:...
as the only finished part of the project now does not end at the sea yet. The two lanes were built 150 m apart to leave space for a railroad and eventually also a pipeline. Right now the highway runs from 8°18.11′N 98°47.03′E to 9°9.47′N 99°31.02′E and the project is stalled due to environmental concerns.
This is also a reason for recent interest in the canal. The Strait of Malacca
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is named after the Malacca Sultanate that ruled over the archipelago between 1414 to 1511.-Extent:...
, just under 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) long, is narrow, less than 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) at the narrowest, and just 25 metres (82 ft) deep at its shallowest point. It is heavily used by oil tankers and bulk carriers. Some 80 percent of Japan's oil supplies pass through the Straits. Any planned canal in Thailand would mean that large ships could travel through the region from India and on to China and Japan without passing through the pirate-infested Strait of Malacca.
In 2005 an internal report prepared for U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
was leaked to The Washington Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
, spelling out China's strategy of underwriting construction of the canal across the Kra Isthmus complete with Chinese port facilities and refineries, as part of its "string of pearls
String of Pearls (China)
The String of Pearls refers to the Chinese sea lines of communication which extend to Port Sudan. The sea lines run through the strategic choke points Strait of Mandab, Strait of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Lombok as well as other strategic naval interest such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka,...
" strategy of forward bases and energy security
Energy security
Energy security is a term for an association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led...
. The Chinese plan called for construction over ten years employing roughly 30,000 workers and costing between 20 and 25 billion American dollars.
External links
- 2Bangkok about the Kra Isthmus canal
- Thai Canal project feasibility study (bilingual site)