Maritime Chokepoints: Capacity, Limitations and Threats
The circulation capacity mainly dictated by the chokepoints does not leave much additional room to accommodate growth, although there is significant room to manage more effectively their use. Still, these geographical constraints cannot be easily bypassed and will be a significant factor in the security of global freight distribution. Occasionally, the dependency of the global economy on their use is underlined with the unfolding of geopolitical events. The Strait of Hormuz has particularly been the object of recurring contentions since it is linked to the strategic supply of oil.
Chokepoint
|
Usage (ships / day, 2003)
|
Additional Capacity
|
Limitation
|
Threat (disruption potential)
|
Hormuz
|
50
|
Limited
|
Narrow corridors (two 3 km wide channels)
|
Iran
|
Suez
|
38
|
Some
|
200,000 dwt and convoy size
|
Political instability in Egypt, Terrorism
|
Bosporus
|
125
|
Very limited
|
Ship size and length; 210,000 dwt
|
Restrictions by Turkey; navigation accident
|
Malacca
|
170
|
Substantial
|
300,000 dwt
|
Piracy
|
Panama
|
35
|
Limited (expansion in 2014)
|
65,000 dwt (120,000 dwt after expansion)
|
No significant
|
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