Newsletter | 苏伊士运河堵塞事件是否预示了全球化的隐藏风险？

It took 10 years and 1.5 million workers to build the waterway in the 19th century, and one day and one giant ship to clog it in 2021. The vessel has been refloated, but the disruption could linger.

With the Suez Canal unblocked, the world’s commerce resumes its course.

The 120-mile artificial waterway known as the Suez Canal has been a potential flash point for geopolitical conflict since it opened in 1869. Now the canal, a vital international shipping passage, is in the news for a different reason: a blockage affecting more than 300 vessels that sent tremors through the world of maritime commerce.

In this case, why was this block so important? And which perspective can we search for the answer?

Shipping canals are waterways specifically built along major seawater routes to enable the passage of vessels. Most of the time, these canals are constructed to connect to waterbodies including seas, lakes, and rivers, offering an alternative route to the vessels, particularly cargo vessels.

Such canals are of vital importance in the maritime industry as they offer shorter transportation routes across major seawater networks and also help to regulate maritime traffic internally within countries.

An estimated 89.5% of global trade is carried by sea. As per UNCTAD figures, in 2019, although the maritime trade growth and port traffic growth were down, world seaborne trade reached a volume of 11 billion tons with a predicted growth of +2.6% in 2019 and an annual average growth of +3.4% for the period 2019-2024..

An estimated 793.26 million TEUs were handled in container ports worldwide in 2019 and as of now there are 6,145 active ships carrying 23,657,724 TEUs around the world.

The growth, numbers and the volume involved makes the maritime industry one of the most globalized industries in the world in terms of ownership and operations.

Not just in terms of ownership, the Maritime industry also provides employment for an estimated 1.65 million seafarers working in the global merchant fleet across the world.

There are hundreds of shipping canals all over the world, in different length, width and depth, facilitating easy movement of a variety of vessels on an everyday basis. Some of these canals are also the busiest traffic routes around the world.

Mentioned below are ten of the most famous and busiest shipping canals from around the world (In no specific order).

1. Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal

Popularly known as Grand Canal, the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal is the longest and the oldest canal in the world. Connecting China’s the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the canal goes through several provinces in the country as well as connects with several other rivers.  While the canal covers a length of 1,776 km (1,104 mi), its greatest height reaches at a summit of 42 m in the mountains of Shandong. Linking the northern and southern China, the canal contributes heavily to the country’s economy as it holds a great role in the transportation of cargo. Originally built in 468 BC, the Grand Canal is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Suez Canal

Opened in November 1869, the 193.30 km (120 miles)-long Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway located in Egypt. Linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, the Suez Canal is an extremely crucial shipping canal in the world maritime sector as it is one of the most heavily used shipping routes in the world.

3. Panama Canal

One of the most crucial maritime gateways in the western region, the Panama Canal provides connectivity between the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean through the Panama isthmus- a narrow strip that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean. Since the oceans that the canal connects with are not at the same level, the canal uses Lock Gates on either side to lift the vessel to the higher level and similarly to drop down to the sea level. Opened in the year 1914, the canal helps vessels transiting between the east and west coasts of the US to shorten their journey by 15,000 km. The 82 km (51 mi)-long waterway offers its service to 29 major liner services, mostly on the US East Coast to Asia trade route. In 2017, the Panama Canal witnessed the arrival of a total of 13,548 vessels and received 403.8 million tons of cargo.

4. Corinth Canal

Connecting the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea, the Corinth Canal goes through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and divides the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland. With the 6.4-kilometre length and 8 meters (26 ft) depth, the Corinth Canal is considered to be the deepest canal in the world. The canal holds its importance as it helps seafarers avoid the dangers of sailing around the Peloponnese’s treacherous southern capes while moving between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.  Though its economic importance has reduced due to the incapability to accommodate modern ships, the canal still serves around 15,000 ships from at least 50 countries.

5. The White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal

The White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal, also called White Sea Canal, is an important waterway that regularizes traffic internally along the Russian waterways starting from the White Sea in the north and extending to the Baltic Sea down south. Constructed in the year 1933, the shipping canal passes through various smaller water bodies, including the Arctic Ocean and Lake Onega, before finally emerging into the Baltic Sea. Although an important navigation conduct, the 227 km-long canals, however, witnesses only light traffic since it isn’t suitable for merchant ships vessels with larger dimensions and specifications. It is estimated that a total of 193 million tonnes of cargo had been transited through the canal over the first 75 years of its operation since 1993.

The Canals have affected the trade of the world. Canals have led to a rapid change in the material and character of the vessels used; to important changes in the sources of production; to the development of the growth of wheat in the countries which they serve; and to a large reduction in the cost of bread and other food in countries.