Strait of Malacca
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Malacca Strait is a narrow stretch of water, 500 mi (800 km) long and from 40 to 155 mi (65–250 km) wide, located between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest and the Malay Peninsula (Peninsular Malaysia) to the northeast, connecting the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) with the Singapore Strait and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).[2] As the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, it is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. It is named after the Phyllanthus emblica, which is known by the locals as the Malaka tree, grown in coastal regions alongside the strait.
Extent
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Strait of Malacca as follows:[3]
On the west. A line joining
Phuket Island] in Siam [Thailand] (7°45′N 98°18′E / 7.750°N 98.300°E).On the east. A line joining Tanjong Piai (Bulus), the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula (1°16′N 103°31′E / 1.267°N 103.517°E), and The Brothers (1°11.5′N 103°21′E / 1.1917°N 103.350°E), and thence to Klein Karimoen (1°10′N 103°23.5′E / 1.167°N 103.3917°E).
On the north. The southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula.
On the south. The northeastern coast of Sumatra as far to the eastward as Tanjong Kedabu (1°06′N 102°58′E / 1.100°N 102.967°E), thence to Klein Karimoen.
Etymology
Malacca Strait comes (from
History
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2017) |
Early traders from
In the 7th century the maritime empire of Srivijaya, based in Palembang, Sumatra, rose to power, and its influence expanded to the Malay peninsula and Java. The empire gained effective control of two major choke points in maritime Southeast Asia: the Strait of Malacca and the Sunda Strait. By launching a series of conquests and raids on potential rival ports on both sides of the strait, Srivijaya ensured its economic and military domination in the region, which lasted for about 700 years. Srivijaya gained great benefits from the lucrative spice trade, e.g. the tributary trade system with China, and trade with Indian and Arab merchants. The Strait of Malacca became an important maritime trade route between India and China. The importance of the Strait of Malacca in global trade networks continued well into later centuries with the rise of the Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century, the Johor Sultanate, and the modern city-state of Singapore.
Since the 17th century, the strait has been the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Various major regional powers have managed the straits during different historical periods.[7]
Economic importance
From an economic and strategic perspective, the Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.
The strait is the main shipping channel between the
The
Shipping hazards
Piracy has been a problem in the strait. Piracy had been high in the 2000s, with an additional increase after the events of September 11, 2001.[16] After attacks rose again in the first half of 2004, regional navies stepped up their patrols of the area in July 2004. Subsequently, attacks on ships in the Strait of Malacca dropped, to 79 in 2005 and 50 in 2006.[17] Attacks have dropped to near zero in recent years.[18]
There are 34
On 20 August 2017, ten
Another risk is the annual haze due to wildfires in Sumatra, Indonesia. It may reduce visibility to 200 metres (660 ft), forcing ships to slow in the busy strait. The strait is frequently used by ships longer than 350 metres (1,150 ft).[21]
Proposals to relieve the strait
An alternative is to install a
See also
- Geostrategic context
- Andaman and Nicobar Command
- Andaman Sea
- Bay of Bengal
- Exclusive economic zone of Indonesia
- Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia
- Exclusive economic zone of Thailand
- Exclusive economic zone of India
- Local context
- Malacca City
- Malaccamax
- Lingga Roads
- Malacca Strait Bridge
- George Town, Penang
- History of Kedah
- Mangroves of the Straits of Malacca
- Piracy in the Strait of Malacca
References
- ^ Malaccamax. As the name suggests, Malaccamax ships are the largest ships that can pass through the Strait of Malacca which is 25 m (82 ft) deep at its shallowest. As per the current permissible limits, a Malaccamax vessel can have a maximum length of 400 m (1,312 ft), beam of 59 m (193.6 ft), and draught of 14.5 m (47.6 ft). Comparison of Tanker sizes Archived 3 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Winn, Patrick (27 March 2014). "Strait of Malacca Is World's New Piracy Hotspot". NBC News. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Limits of Oceans and Seas (PDF) (3rd ed.). International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. p. 23. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Phyllanthus emblica L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9789400740525.
- ^ a b "The legendary Malaka tree". Forest Research Institute, Malaysia. 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ Pineda, Guillermo (2012). "The Strait of Malacca as one of the most important geopolitical regions for the People's Republic of China". Academia.edu. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017.
- ^ Marcus Hernig: Die Renaissance der Seidenstraße (2018) pp 112.
- ^ Mantoan, Benedetta (2019). "The Maritime Silk Road in South-East Asia". www.southworld.net. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ Sutton, H. I. (8 July 2020). "Could The Indian Navy Strangle China's Lifeline In The Malacca Strait?". Forbes. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ "Can Singapore's shipping hub survive China's Maritime Silk Road?". Supply Chain Asia. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ Ships collide off Malaysian coast. Aljazeera.net. 19 August 2009. Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine (in English)
- ^ Strait of Malacca - World Oil Transit Chokepoints Archived 2014-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy
- ISBN 0-7735-2515-7.. A book review citing this information can be found at University of Toronto Quarterly, Volume 74, Number 1, Winter 2004/5, pp. 528-530
- ^ a b "World Oil Transit Chokepoints" (PDF). www.eia.gov. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 November 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Raymond, Catherine (2009). "PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY IN THE MALACCA STRAIT: A Problem Solved?". Naval War College Review. 62: 31–42 – via Proquest.
- ^ Piracy down 3rd year in row: IMB report Archived 2013-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Journal of Commerce Online, January 23, 2007
- ^ "Drastic drop in piracy in Malacca Straits". maritimesecurity.asia. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Ali, Sharidan Mohd Ali (2 January 2006). "34 wrecks in sealane threaten passing ships". thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Affairs, This story was written by U.S. 7th Fleet Public. "UPDATE: USS John S. McCain Collides with Merchant Ship". navy.mil. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ISBN 9780719063701.
Notes
- ^ Cognate to:
- Tamil: ஆமலகி, romanized: amalaki;
- romanized: amlaki;
- romanized: amlaki;
- Gujarati: આમળા, romanized: amla, or આમલક amalak;
- romanized: amla;
- Kashmiri: आमलकी, romanized: amalaki, or ओम्ल omala;
- Kannada: ಆಮಲಕ, romanized: aamalaka;
- Meitei: আমলা, romanized: amla;
- Pali: आमलक, romanized: amalak;
- Telugu: ఆమలకము, romanized: amalakamu
Further reading
- Borschberg, Peter, The Singapore and Melaka Straits: Violence, Security and Diplomacy in the 17th Century (Singapore and Leiden: NUS Press and KITLV Press, 2010). https://www.academia.edu/4302722
- Borschberg, Peter, ed., Iberians in the Singapore-Melaka Area and Adjacent Regions (16th to 18th Century) (Wiesbaden and Lisbon: Harrassowitz and Fundação Oriente, 2004). https://www.academia.edu/4302708
- Borschberg, Peter, ed. The Memoirs and Memorials of Jacques de Coutre. Security, Trade and Society in 17th Century Southeast Asia (Singapore: NUS Press, 2013). https://www.academia.edu/4302722
- Borschberg, Peter, ed., Journal, Memorials and Letters of Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge. Security, Diplomacy and Commerce in 17th Century Southeast Asia (Singapore: NUS Press, 2015). https://www.academia.edu/4302783
- Borschberg, Peter, "The value of Admiral Matelieff's writings for the history of Southeast Asia, c. 1600–1620", Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 48(3), pp. 414–435.
- Borschberg P. and M. Krieger, ed., Water and State in Asia and Europe (New Delhi: Manohar, 2008). https://www.academia.edu/4311610
External links
- World oil transit chokepoints
- Maritime Security in Southeast Asia: U.S., Japanese, Regional, and Industry Strategies (National Bureau of Asian Research, November 2010)
- BBC News report on the increased security in the Straits
- "Going for the jugular" Report on the potential terrorist threat to the Straits. From the Economist, requires subscription, in the print edition June 10, 2004
- China builds up strategic sea lanes
- A report from the International Maritime Organisation on the implementation of a Straits "Marine Electronic Highway" - a series of technological measures to ensure safe and efficient use of the busy waters
- Malacca, Singapore, and Indonesia (1978) by Michael Leifer
- The Malacca Straits Research and Development Centre homepage
- Al-Jazeera: Malacca Strait nations plan air patrol
- The Strategic Importance of the Straits of Malacca for World Trade and Regional Development
- AP: Singapore warns of terror threat in Malacca Strait, 2010-03-04