The 27-mile passage that is Southeast Asia’s answer to the Suez canal | World | News
The Thai Canal, also known as the Kra Canal or Kra Isthmus Canal, is a significant proposal aimed at transforming Southeast Asian maritime trade routes.
This ambitious project would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea, drastically reducing travel distances by bypassing the heavily trafficked Strait of Malacca.
The concept of the Kra Canal is not new. It dates back to 1677 when Thai King Narai first considered a waterway to link Songkhla and what is now Myanmar.
Although early attempts to survey and construct the canal, including efforts in 1793 and the 19th century by the British East India Company, were deemed impractical due to technological limitations, the idea persisted.
In the late 19th century, Ferdinand de Lesseps, the engineer behind the Suez Canal, showed interest, but political agreements and colonial interests prevented progress.
Modern plans for the canal have varied in scope and route. The most prominent proposal as of 2015 suggested a 102-kilometer canal that is 400 meters wide and 25 meters deep, with potential routes cutting through regions such as Ranong and Chumphon or Surat Thani and Phang Nga. These routes aim to exploit the narrowest and most feasible parts of the Kra Isthmus.
Despite the apparent economic and strategic benefits, including reducing oil shipment distances to Japan and China by 1,200 kilometers, the project has faced numerous obstacles. High costs, environmental concerns, and geopolitical implications have all been significant barriers.
In 2018, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stated the canal was not a priority for the government. However, in January 2020, the Thai House of Representatives initiated a committee to re-examine the project.
If ever built, the Kra Canal would have a transformative impact on regional trade. By providing an alternative to the Strait of Malacca, the canal could cut two to three days off shipping times between the South China Sea and the Andaman Sea, offering substantial fuel savings for large vessels.
The Strait of Malacca, currently the world’s busiest shipping route, is projected to handle 140,000 vessels by 2025. The Thai Canal would alleviate this congestion, enhancing Thailand’s position as a global shipping hub.
The strategic significance of the Kra Isthmus has been recognized for centuries. In 1946, post-World War Two treaties between Thailand and the United Kingdom included clauses preventing the canal’s construction without British consent, highlighting the canal’s geopolitical importance.
Modern analysis suggests that the canal could shift the balance of maritime trade and military presence in the region, particularly affecting ports in Malaysia and Singapore, which could see a decline in shipping traffic.
