Chinese Company wins 100 year lease to fund and build the Great Nicaraguan Canal

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
This has HUGE long term implications.

Inside Costa Rica said:

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Currently estimated to take ten years to build and costing in excess of $40 billion dollars, a new Hong Kong based Chinese Comany, the HKND Group (also known as the Investment Company for the Development of the Great Nicaraguan Canal), has won a lease from the Nicaraguan government under President Daniel Ortega, to build the canal to compete with or as an alternative to the Panama Canal.

The new canal would have the following specifications (intial estimates):

Canal Length: 282.5 km (178 miles)
Highest Elevation: 37 m (121 ft)
Lock Length: 610m (2,000 ft)
Lock width: 61 m (200 ft)
Lock Draft: 22m (72 ft)
Largest Ship: 250,000 tons displacement


6de005ae25579d1eff7eabc81e0cdbb6_XL.jpg

The location of the Nicaragua Canal

Here is a closer look at the two proposed routes for the canal.


Route-3.-Nicaragua-Canal.preview.jpg

The Nicaruaga Canal Proposed Route

...and here's a close-up look at the existing Panama Canal by comparison:


992px-Panama_Canal_Map_EN.png

The Panama Canal

By comparison, the Panama Canal Specification (after the new widening project) are:

Canal Length: 75.2 km (48 miles)
Highest Elevatione: 26 m (85 ft)
Lock Length: 427m (1,400 ft)
Lock width: 55 m (180 ft)
Lock Draft: 18.3 m (62ft)
Largest Ship: 130,000 tons displacement

Currently the Panama Canal is undergoing a $5.2 billion dollar widening that will meet the above specifications.
 

solarz

Brigadier
Why would it have huge implications? Sure, 100 years is a long time, but it's just one company getting to build that canal, and presumably charge for its usage afterwards.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Why would it have huge implications? Sure, 100 years is a long time, but it's just one company getting to build that canal, and presumably charge for its usage afterwards.
It has implications because the Nicaraguan government and its finincial position will be hugely impacted, and because they are not amiaby disposed towards the US. This canal will be more capable in terms of vessel passage than the Panama Canal. I N terms of size and in terms of traffic.

So, the military implication would be, that in times of crisis, particularly if there are flair ups between the US and China or their interests, the Nicaraguan canal is likely to be available to the Chinese siad of the equation and not the US.

In times of peace, the financial implications to Nicaragua will be huge. And, it will take away business from the Panama Canal. To date, the Panam Canal has been the only game in town. My guess is that this canal will make a huge positive impact on the Nicaraguan economy and GNP. Which means, in addition to their economic growth and quality of life, they will be able to afford a larger and more modern military if they so desire, shifting power Central America over the long run.
 

AssassinsMace

Lieutenant General
Well there has been long talk that the Panama Canal has become a dinosaur that it cannot serve new super cargo vessels. I would assume this new canal would address that problem.
 

mr.bean

Junior Member
It has implications because the Nicaraguan government and its finincial position will be hugely impacted, and because they are not amiaby disposed towards the US. This canal will be more capable in terms of vessel passage than the Panama Canal. I N terms of size and in terms of traffic.

So, the military implication would be, that in times of crisis, particularly if there are flair ups between the US and China or their interests, the Nicaraguan canal is likely to be available to the Chinese siad of the equation and not the US.

In times of peace, the financial implications to Nicaragua will be huge. And, it will take away business from the Panama Canal. To date, the Panam Canal has been the only game in town. My guess is that this canal will make a huge positive impact on the Nicaraguan economy and GNP. Which means, in addition to their economic growth and quality of life, they will be able to afford a larger and more modern military if they so desire, shifting power Central America over the long run.

Daniel Ortega is a very brave man (or insane). has he forgotton the Monroe doctrine? the united states is not going to let him and the Chinese pull a stunt like this. he is at a great risk to be ''regime changed''. he better call the funeral home and book an appointment for himself because he is officially a 'walking dead' once this contract is officially signed.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Well there has been long talk that the Panama Canal has become a dinosaur that it cannot serve new super cargo vessels. I would assume this new canal would address that problem.
That is one of the reasons the Panamanians are spending five billion to upgrade the Panama Canal...but even then, it will only handle up to 130,000 tons, 1,200 ft long and about 160 ft wide. The Nicaraguan Canal will habndle up to 250,000 tons, 1,800 ft long and 180 ft wide.

So, there's will handle the larger vessels. Then it will depend on the price for all the other traffic. m And with competition, the prices will be lower.
 

joshuatree

Captain
It has implications because the Nicaraguan government and its finincial position will be hugely impacted, and because they are not amiaby disposed towards the US. This canal will be more capable in terms of vessel passage than the Panama Canal. I N terms of size and in terms of traffic.

So, the military implication would be, that in times of crisis, particularly if there are flair ups between the US and China or their interests, the Nicaraguan canal is likely to be available to the Chinese siad of the equation and not the US.

In times of peace, the financial implications to Nicaragua will be huge. And, it will take away business from the Panama Canal. To date, the Panam Canal has been the only game in town. My guess is that this canal will make a huge positive impact on the Nicaraguan economy and GNP. Which means, in addition to their economic growth and quality of life, they will be able to afford a larger and more modern military if they so desire, shifting power Central America over the long run.

Definitely huge implications. As you say, it would vastly boost Nicaragua's economy and political clout. Another area that could be a game changer would be a canal built across the southern part of Thailand.
 

montyp165

Junior Member
So whatever happened to the proposed "dry canal" (a railway connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific) in Columbia?:confused:

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Neither are necessarily mutually exclusive, if anything the infrastructure upgrades alone would help Columbian-Chinese trade significantly with improved internal transport, on top of improved maritime shipping with a Nicaragua canal.
 

tphuang

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
Daniel Ortega is a very brave man (or insane). has he forgotton the Monroe doctrine? the united states is not going to let him and the Chinese pull a stunt like this. he is at a great risk to be ''regime changed''. he better call the funeral home and book an appointment for himself because he is officially a 'walking dead' once this contract is officially signed.

I'm not sure brave is the right word here. The current Nicaraguan government is just quite anti-US in general, because it's ruled by the leftist. He is just doing what he has always done. If you've ever been to Nicaragua, you will know what I mean.

Either way, I really hope this gets completed and bring a lot of benefit to the Nicaraguan people. The country really needs it.

That is one of the reasons the Panamanians are spending five billion to upgrade the Panama Canal...but even then, it will only handle up to 130,000 tons, 1,200 ft long and about 160 ft wide. The Nicaraguan Canal will habndle up to 250,000 tons, 1,800 ft long and 180 ft wide.

So, there's will handle the larger vessels. Then it will depend on the price for all the other traffic. m And with competition, the prices will be lower.

Just looking at peace time and commerce alone, I think this at least sounds to me to be really good for Nicaragua and world commerce.
 
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