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Cruising in Pirate Territory
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A small cruiser takes a run along the Straits of Malacca adjacent to Penang. It has likely been a few kms west to Monkey beach, a popular place for visitors. The Malaysian flag flies at the stern. This is fairly normal weather and water conditions here. Taken using full zoom resting on the railing on 7th floor balcony.
The WS has a map of the area discussed.
Note on Straits of Melacca.
From an economic and strategic perspective the Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, an equivalent of the Suez Canal, or the Panama Canal. The Strait forms the main ship passageway between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, linking three of the world's most populous nations: India, Indonesia and China. The Strait carries 50,000 vessels per year, carrying between one-fifth and one quarter of the world's sea trade. A quarter of all oil shipments carried by sea come through the Strait, in 2003, an estimated 11 million barrels a day, a trade that is expected to expand as oil consumption rises in China.
At Phillips Channel near Singapore, the Strait narrows to 2.8 km wide, creating one of the world's most significant traffic bottlenecks.
The maximum size of a vessel that can make passage through the Strait is referred to as Malaccamax.
Shipping hazards
Piracy in the Strait has risen in recent years. There were about 25 attacks on vessels in 1994, 220 in 2000, and just over 150 in 2003 (one-third of the global total}.
After attacks rose again in the first half of 2004, the Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean navies stepped up their patrols of the area in July 2004.
Some security specialists say a terrorist group might hijack a large ship, sink it in a shallow point (it is just 25 m deep at its shallowest), and block traffic, slowing shipments and causing economic losses around the world. Others say this kind of attack is either infeasible or unlikely.
There are 34 shipwrecks, some dating to the 1880s, in the Traffic Separation Scheme the imaginary sealane for commercial ships. These pose a collision hazard in the narrow and shallow Strait.
Another risk is the yearly haze caused by raging bush fires in Sumatra. It can reduce visibility to 200 m, forcing ships to slow down in the busy strait. Some fear it might also give cover to terrorists or pirates.
Proposals to relieve the strait
Thailand has developed several plans to diminish the economic significance of the Strait. The Thai government has over the course of its history several times proposed to cut a canal through the Isthmus of Kra, shaving around 960 km from the journey from Africa and the Middle East to the Pacific. This would also cut Thailand in two, further isolating the separatist Muslim majority in Pattani. China has offered to cover the costs, according to a report leaked to The Washington Times in 2004. Nevertheless, and despite the support of several Thai politicians, the prohibitive financial and ecological costs suggest that no such canal will go ahead.
A second alternative is to build a pipeline across the isthmus to carry oil to ships waiting on the other side. Proponents say it would cut the cost of oil delivery to Asia by about $0.50/barrel.Myanmar has also made a similar pipeline proposal.
Wikipedia. |
jhm, pierrefonds, Silke, AROBN54, JPlumb, papagolf21, Uhu has marked this note useful
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- jhm
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12487 W: 261 N: 16470]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(65895) - [2007-02-27 6:14]
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Hi Murray,
Many thanks for your interesting note, this can nobody read in the newspaper!
You place the boat excellent under of the picture, I like the water after the boat, very well composition with this small waves on this green water. TFS.
Regards,
John.
Hi Murrau,
A good POV of the cruiser and of the sea, the photo has a good composition, DOF and nice colors. Have a nice day.
Pierre
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- Silke
(3015)
- [2007-02-27 18:13]
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Superb colours and expert composition on this marine capture, Murray
TFS
silke
Hi, Murray,
I love that water. That is just the right color and the boat makes a GREAT contrast with it's sharp, bright colors. And its perfect positioning. Beautifully done and a great note!! Thank you,
Shelly
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- JPlumb
(3119)
- [2007-02-28 2:41]
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Hi Murray, I came in to see a picture and got blown away by your note, and with a map yet. Sounds like I should be buying stock in a pipeline company, at 50 cents a barrel there should be a pretty quick payback.
As far as the picture is concerned its looking pretty peaceful, not a pirate in sight. The guy sitting up on the back deck looks pretty comfortable. The colour is very good, the shot is sharp and the composition with evidence of action at the stern and room for the bow is great.
Thanks, John
Bonjour, Cher Murray,
Une perle blanche dans une eau turquoise ! Pouvoir naviguer dans ces eaux qui semblent venir d'ailleurs.
Ce petit croiseur semble très agréable pour profiter d'une promenade.
Très belle prise de vue.
Amitiés.
Philippe
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- Uhu
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 0 N: 1021]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(4440) - [2007-09-24 12:27]
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Wonderful colors of the photo and very good explanatory note. In my photos I look back at history and you usually tells us about the present. That's a difference, and you look better here, so to say! Great work.
