"Lifeline at Sea" emergencies, schedules or delays

May 30, 2022

TDDchem.com

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On May 26, local time, a cargo ship named "Marco Polo 188" slanted severely in the waters of the North Malacca Strait in the Riau Islands, Indonesia. The cargo ship was carrying 195 containers, some of which fell into the wrecked waters after the accident.

It is reported that the destination of the cargo ship this voyage is Singapore, and the ship originally carried 195 containers.

The Strait of Malacca is known as the "crossroads" of Southeast Asia. It is located between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. The strait is about 1,080 kilometers long. It is an important sea passage for the exchanges between countries along the coasts of Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. Oil and strategic materials imported from foreign countries by many developed countries must be shipped through here. With the rise of Asia, the center of the world economy is shifting eastward, and business in the Straits of Malacca will be busier.

In addition, China has been promoting the implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative, and the Strait of Malacca cannot be avoided in order to better implement this initiative, which covers a population of 4.4 billion. For trade between my country and the countries covered by the "Belt and Road" initiative, it is necessary to go through the maritime channel of the Strait of Malacca.

In addition, more than 50% of my country's exports to Europe need to be transported through the Strait of Malacca, and 80% of China's oil imports from the Middle East and other regions also need to be transported through the Strait of Malacca. Therefore, although the Strait of Malacca does not belong to China, it is a key pass that can control China's economic development.

It is worth noting that at present, with the gradual clearing of the domestic epidemic, China's export container market is gradually recovering, and the import and export demand is increasing, and the Malacca Strait, known as the "lifeline at sea", has encountered an emergency. Will it cause congestion, other problems? It is not known whether the cargo ship's sailing schedule will be affected.

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