Problems with Canals

Excellent piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled "Two Canals, Two Big Problems —One Global Shipping Mess".

Of course, we've covered the problems with the Houthis and the Suez Canal.

 

This map was included in the article, and shows routes on which ship traffic has increased from 12/23 to 12/24. Note that the route through the Red Sea is barely shaded, while the routes around Africa are bright red. 

I believe the red routes from our Gulf coast to southern Europe are largely our exports of liquefied natural gas (replacing shipments that are no longer being made from Russia).

Also note the traffic around the southern tip of South America. Even in the 21st century, this is a stormy route that ships try to avoid. But if they can't get through the Panama Canal, that's the only way to go.

The problem with the Panama Canal is drought: there isn't enough water sometimes to move the ships.The article contains an animated infographic explaining the problem.