20 cargo ships stranded in Mekong River as water becomes too shallow

BANGKOK, 10 February 2015 (NNT) - Traveling by boat in the Mekong River has grown difficult due to water levels reaching a critical low.

More than 20 large cargo ships have been stranded in the river for nearly a week, roughly 120 kilometers north of Chiang Rai province.

The decline in the Mekong River water levels was caused by intermittent rain, as well as China’s decision to decrease the daily amount of water released from one of its dams by 400 million cubic meters.

Cargo ships require a minimum depth of 1.80 meters to navigate through the Mekong River. No ships have been traveling along the river, which is currently only 1.10 meters deep.

Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce Vice President Pakaimas Vierra said that more than 300 ships rely on the river to deliver goods between Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Southern China.

She revealed that smaller ships from Laos were forced to lower cargo loads by 50% to make it through the river. The revenue loss is estimated at 10 million baht per day. However, China is expected to release more water into the Mekong River soon, in order to resolve the issue.


-- NNT 2015-02-10

"The decline in the Mekong River water levels was caused by intermittent rain, as well as China’s decision to decrease the daily amount of water released from one of its dams by 400 million cubic meters."

China is in control of the taps (dams), soon the electricity and railway system. Welcome to the 23rd province of China.

Thank you P. R. China, it's so great to be your best friend, because you always care for us, your neighbours, for the environment, freedom of expression, peace and democracy! What would the World become when you would be the greedy, selfish, materialist, imperialist, nepotistic and oligarchic, mega-power ruling over it...

now we have to wonder what China will demand for the water release, they are fast becoming a menace to all the other asian countries in the efforts to increase their wealth/territory

Thailand's best friend China is holding them by the balls.

"The decline in the Mekong River water levels was caused by intermittent rain, as well as China’s decision to decrease the daily amount of water released from one of its dams by 400 million cubic meters."

Which raises the question - if that dam was not there, how much more or less water would be flowing in the Mekong? By trapping flood-waters and releasing during low levels of rain and flow, a dam is more likely to decrease the period that low level makes a river un-navigable.

Thailand's best friend China is holding them by the balls.

Thailand's best friend China is holding them by the balls.

Should that not be illegal under the new regulations about porn and deviant sex?

If the powers that be in Thailand had any nards at all the would tell the chinese to increase the water flow or they will lose the contract to build the railway and give that contract to the japanese

how about dredging a channel?

"China’s decision to decrease the daily amount of water..."

Do us all a favor. Increase the water. Decrease your obnoxious tourists.

how about dredging a channel?

that would require common sense but then China would probably release a heap of water to close/backfill the channel back up with silt

how about dredging a channel?

The French discovered the Mekong wasn't viable for large ships 150 years ago. The expedition took years even to reach Luang Prabang.

no one gave notice of this going to happen ?

Thank you P. R. China, it's so great to be your best friend, because you always care for us, your neighbours, for the environment, freedom of expression, peace and democracy! What would the World become when you would be the greedy, selfish, materialist, imperialist, nepotistic and oligarchic, mega-power ruling over it...

Come come now, this is not a nice way to talk about "Thailand's best friend and mentor" now

is it?

I am sure china will help Thailand , they are such great generous people ,

"The decline in the Mekong River water levels was caused by intermittent rain, as well as China’s decision to decrease the daily amount of water released from one of its dams by 400 million cubic meters."

China is in control of the taps (dams), soon the electricity and railway system. Welcome to the 23rd province of China.

I prefer Chinese technocrats in control than a private US company or Thai government (I saw the results of Thai government control in 2011).

Didn't the Japanese have a memorandum of understanding with Thailand on building a railway back in the early 1940's? The Japanese said we build the railway from Burma or we kill you all.

400 million cubic m per day = 400 000 000/ (60 x 60 x 24) cubic m/sec = 4,600 cubic m/sec.

The average Jan flow at Nakhon Phanom is 2380 cubic m/sec, and drops lower in the next few months. Not enough to float your boat apparently, and this happens every year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong#Water_flow_along_its_course

It seems that while the Chinese were providing flow the river was navigable. Reducing the flow, which may not have been sustainable, can hardly be attributed to malice when the effect is a naturally recurring phenomenon.

Maybe the guy reincarnated in China:

Why no pics, strange.

Somebody get 617 Squadron out here ASAP.

no one gave notice of this going to happen ?

i saw it on TV a few months back on BBC 2 "The Mekong River with Sue Perkins"

Why no pics, strange.

If one does a Google search one finds this...

And below is a link to the article it appeared in...

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/ships-grounded-on-mekong-awaiting-china-to-release-water-from-jinghong-dam.html

This extreme low water on the Mekong is nothing

new. Bad droughts along the entire river area are the

main cause plus the Chinese dams being an additional

major factor.

Some reading below FYI...

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/11/07/moratorium-needed-on-mekong-river-dams/

http://cambodia.panda.org/?211093/Emergency-Meeting-of-the-Mekong-River-Commission-Urgently-Needed--WWF

http://www.tuvy.com/countries/vietnamese/land/mekong_river.htm

http://dwightworker.com/7-from-se-asia-the-dammning-of-the-mekong-river/

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Mr_Viraponh_Viravong_Deputy_Minister_of_Energy_and_Mines_Lao_PDR_We_call_on_you_to_SAVE_the_MEKONG_River_DOLPHINS_Suspen/?pv=35

http://wle.cgiar.org/blogs/2014/03/21/china-rivers-brink-collapse/

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_damming_of_the_mekong_major_blow_to_an_epic_river/2162/

Good news for me.....Taking a ride into Laos, maybe I can now just cross the Mekong instead to use a overpriced boat or overpriced police escort over the bridge in C. Khong.....

A wait, I decided to cross in Nan anyway...

Maybe TAT can put all those Chinese New Year's visitors they expect next week on a Mekong River cruise.

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how about dredging a channel?

The French discovered the Mekong wasn't viable for large ships 150 years ago. The expedition took years even to reach Luang Prabang.

And now it takes yuans.

The Upper Mekong Navigation Improvement Project is of more concern at the moment; clearing rapids with the aim of getting 500 tonne barge trains from Yunnan to Luang Prabang. I doubt they will be stopping in Luang Prabang and soon the lower section will also be made navigatable in order for China to further exploit Yunnan.