'A memorandum of cooperation among various enterprises on the construction of Kra Canal in Thailand has been signed in Guangzhou China.

The canal, located at Kra Isthmus, will enable ships to bypass the Malacca Strait so as to shorten their voyage by 1,200 km.

It is an important project of China’s 21st century maritime Silk Road.

The canal will be 102 km long, 400 meters wide and 25 meters deep.'

continued http://chinadailymail.com/2015/05/17/china-announces-strategically-important-kra-isthmus-canal-in-thailand/

Long talked about ….perhaps getting closer

400metres wide? That is going to be some canal.

Thailand, China to team up on long-proposed Kra Isthmus canal

'China and Thailand recently agreed in Guangzhou on a canal project through the Kra Isthmus, the narrowest part of the Malay peninsula in southern Thailand, which means the project, in the pipeline for years, may start construction soon, according to the website of Hong Kong-based Oriental Daily.'

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150518000069&cid=1101

So after or before the bridge to Samui from the mainland, is built?

Ain't gonna happen you honestly think the countries it will affect will just do nothing?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/826629-no-deal-kra-canal-remains-a-pipe-dream-for-now/

I do wonder if the general plan is to take it through the middle of the 44, at least part of the way - they have built the road so that there is a huge gap between the lanes. It's dead straight for the most part, and the land in between lanes is all flat with no development on it.

I do wonder if the general plan is to take it through the middle of the 44, at least part of the way - they have built the road so that there is a huge gap between the lanes. It's dead straight for the most part, and the land in between lanes is all flat with no development on it.

Over the years a few locations/paths were proposed. But the area in between highway 44 is only 100-150 meters. Not enough for a canal. The idea was to use the space for an oil or gas pipeline and a railroad.

Thailand denies Kra Canal deal

Thai government officials have denied media reports that Bangkok has signed an agreement with Beijing to construct a shipping canal through the Kra Isthmus that could allow ships to bypass the Straits of Malacca.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-denies-kra-canal/1856758.html

Looks like Singapore has been lobbying with damage control again.

It's just a matter of time before even Singapore cannot resist the will of great China.

More information here ...

The Kra Canal Thailand: New Gateway to Maritime Silk Route

http://kra-canal.kracanalmaritimesilkroad.com

I don't see it happening. I mean, there's a range of mountains all the way down the isthmus, from Ranong down to the Malaysia border. How the heck are they going to get a canal through that? A tunnel? For ships? Under a mountain? Or a series of 200 or so immense locks? Can't see Singapore being too happy about loosing out on the refueling and restocking business they have just now either... sounds like more Asian BS to me... again.

Surely the proposed railways directly to the Andaman have rendered the Khra project obsolete.

Surely the proposed railways directly to the Andaman have rendered the Khra project obsolete.

A railway is nice as a feeder service to bring local cargo to a container terminal or other way around. But as for transit cargo it is totally inadequate. An average large containership carries 10,000 Twenty foot containers. If you stick those on train carriages you need a train in excess of 70km long just to transport the contents of one ship.

Surely the proposed railways directly to the Andaman have rendered the Khra project obsolete.

A railway is nice as a feeder service to bring local cargo to a container terminal or other way around. But as for transit cargo it is totally inadequate. An average large containership carries 10,000 Twenty foot containers. If you stick those on train carriages you need a train in excess of 70km long just to transport the contents of one ship.

True enough, but we should be comparing the existing situation, where the large container ship waits in Shanghai or wherever, for it's cargo to be delivered, by barge, rail, or road. Having the same container ship located on the Andaman coast saves thousands of kilometres of sea travel.