Think Nicaragua Canal Will Work?

Certainly this can work. I'm not sure construction will survive much longer than the initial celebrations. I doubt this will cause a shooting war but it clearly is intended to cause the economic war of competition. The thing I wonder about is the ecology of Lake Nicaragua. That will be forever changed.

There is another point that I think the Nicaraguans are overlooking. Panama's economy did not exactly flourish after their canal was built. Yes, the US becoming the canal care taker and fee taker for decades did not help Panama much if at all. The Panama Canal was both a triumph and tragedy of US and Central America politics. Maybe Nicaragua and China will establish a better relationship than the US and Panama did in the long run. Who knows, this might also end up improving US Panama relations if this new canal produces enemies instead of a wider passage way.

I still say we should have kept the canal and given them Jimmy Carter instead

Nothing motivates like competition!

hopefully the Chinese do a better job manging Nicaraguan land then they did of their own lands when they destroyed everything in sight for their dam

Panama is keeping up with the times:

panama-canal-widening-should-be-finished-in-early-2016

Psnama will not fit the new class of supertankers.....Nic will

Yes, but if the maximum size oil tanker that can fit through the Suez canal is smaller than can already fit through the Panama canal, why worry about oil tankers. The largest ship ever made was the oil tanker, Knock Nevis. This obsoleted tanker was so large it could not navigate the English Channel fully loaded, let alone any canal.

Time is money.

If it shortens transit time, it will succeed.

It won't get past the initial construction stages just like the start of the Panama Canal. This one is bigger and costlier. China will pull out since it will be so long till they get any money back. China can print more money but it won't last or be good for very long.

Hey, maybe it is a good idea. It could bankrupt China!

Panama is at an advantage. It's built and operating now!

Good Luck, Old Salt

#9 seems truer today than it did 3 days ago when it was written!

Doubts Deepen Over China-backed Nicaragua Canal

http://gcaptain.com/doubts-deepen-china-backed-nicaragua-canal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29

MANAGUA, Dec 26 (Reuters) - When one of the poorest countries in the Americas and a little-known Chinese businessman said they planned to undertake one of the biggest engineering projects in history, few people took them seriously.

A year and a half after the $50 billion project to build a canal across Nicaragua was launched by President Daniel Ortega, a former Marxist guerrilla, the doubts have only grown....................................................................................

Good Luck, Old Salt

I have no confidence any portion of this project will materialize, no airport, no sea ports

Another trade magazine article about the Nicaraguan canal.

http://www.workboat.com/Blogs/International-Waters/Nicaragua-canal-revisited/?utm_source=NewsLinks&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=InformzNews

International Waters

Nicaragua canal revisited

Capt. Max Hardberger
December 29, 2014

As a testament to the resiliency of the world's strongest economy, the much-maligned and often-doubted Nicaragua canal is moving forward. Ground was broken on the canal last week, according to a number of international reports, but whether the project will result in a completed Atlantic-Pacific canal, much less by the projected completion date of 2020 - an almost-laughable target - remains to be seen. However, the ennui with which this development has been greeted by political and shipping interests is remarkable in itself.

First, there is no question that the project is being funded in its entirety by the Chinese government, Nicaraguan and Chinese denials - both official and corporate - notwithstanding. Wang Jing, the principal behind the HK Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Co Ltd., and who represented the company at the groundbreaking, is a notorious front-man for the Chinese government, and the bald-faced denials of Chinese government involvement by Nicaragua's Maoist government, supported since its insurgency by that government, are notable only in their risibility.

No doubt an alternate to the ancient and inefficient Panama Canal, even with its nearly completed upgrades, would be welcomed by the shipping community. Yawning reactions to the news of the groundbreaking by shipping commentators may relate more to the unlikelihood of the project's completion than to its political and economic potential. But in terms of our national security, the implications could be significant and it's worthwhile to remember that the Japanese considered trying to shut down the Panama Canal during World War II. A successful shut-down of the Panama Canal and free access for our potential enemies to an alternate passage could adversely affect our ship-based ability to project force.

More immediately, if completed the canal will certainly plump the Chinese government's already-bulging coffers and will constitute a quantum leap for Chinese hegemony in the Americas. This is not fear-mongering: while the world sleeps, the Chinese government is infusing itself throughout Africa, especially in the mineral-rich countries of East Africa. Chinese support of leftist governments in the Americas - including last week's announcement that China may bail out Venezuela - continues unabated.

Just what could be done about the Nicaragua Canal, if indeed doing something were desirable, is hard to say. The United States is unlikely to mount another Contra war against Ortega, and nothing else is likely to have much effect. Ironically, the greatest obstacles to the venture may be the same natural obstacles that deLesseps, the French and the early American canal-builders encountered. But American engineers proved in 1914 that these obstacles can be overcome. So if the Chinese succeed, we must take what solace we can from the fact that the unceasing flow of American dollars into Chinese pockets made it possible.

- See more at: http://www.workboat.com/Blogs/International-Waters/Nicaragua-canal-revisited/?utm_source=NewsLinks&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=InformzNews#sthash.ZDitdjno.dpuf

Good Luck, Old Salt

I'm a bit skeptical myself, its well over 100 miles, 172!

http://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2014/12/NICARAGUACANAL600.jpg

Does it reduce total trip time?

Longer transit times may allow shorter dock to dock times.

Only US corporations usually go into projects they know will be losers when complete.

it will be a great option on several levels(like avoiding hurricanes) if it sees completion. I just feat such destruction of the landscape and way of life for many, it will be interesting to follow

Interesting point, Lake Nicaragua could turn into the largest sheltered port from hurricanes.