Review of Maritime Transport 2024 - Navigating Maritime Chokepoints Report Released | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Review of Maritime Transport 2024 - Navigating Maritime Chokepoints Report Released

Posted 30 Oct 2024

2 min read

Report has been released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UN Trade and Development). 

Key findings 

  • Global maritime trade grew by 2.4% in 2023, recovering from a 2022 contraction, but the recovery remains fragile.
  • Key maritime chokepoints, like the Suez and Panama Canals faced unsettling disruptions.

About Chokepoints 

  • A chokepoint is a geographical feature or passageway (Includes valley, strait etc.) that is narrow and strategic. 
  • Geo-strategic Significance 
    • Facilitates Connectivity: E.g. Suez Canal (Connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea) is crucial for trade between Europe and Asia.
    • Energy Security: E.g. Strait of Hormuz (Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea) witness significant world’s petroleum transportation. 
  • Key Reasons behind disruptions
    • Climate-induced low water levels. E.g. Panama Canal (connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans)
    • Geopolitical tensions and conflicts. E.g. Yemen's Houthi rebels  attacked ships in Bab al-Mandeb Strait (Connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean
  • Impacts of disruptions
    • Straining supply chains (such as energy supplies for India) and raising costs, etc. 
    • Rising shipping costs due to long routes. E.g. Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope (southern tip of Africa) 

Other Key Chokepoints of the World 

  • Strait of Gibraltar: Links the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean
  • Strait of Malacca: Connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea
  • Turkish Straits(Bosporus and Dardanelles): Connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea
  • Tags :
  • Suez Canal
  • Malacca Strait
  • Choke Point
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