5 Narrow Ocean Routes Like Strait of Hormuz That Are Very Important for Shipping

Sea routes are very necessary for trade around the world. Lakhs of ships are involved in the daily transportation of oil, gas and food as well as goods across oceans. However, there are some narrow passages in the world, where a great part of this trade is passed through. These are referred to as maritime chokepoints or maritime bottlenecks.

These routes are important as even a small disruption in these regions may disrupt the world supply lines, raise prices, and delay shipment on the global scale.

5 Major Narrow Ocean Routes

The Strait of Hormuz has been gaining headlines recently with the increasing tension between the USA and Iran. Here are 5 other significant ocean routes that are narrow and but are very important for world trade:

Strait of Malacca

One of the most active shipping lanes in the world is the Strait of Malacca. It unites the Pacific and the Indian oceans.

Countries such as China, Japan and South Korea are using this route as a standard route to transport oil and goods. Its small size and high traffic might result in congestion and other dangers such as piracy.

The Observer Research Foundation mentions: “The Malacca Strait serves as the shortest maritime route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, facilitating the movement of an estimated 82,000 vessels annually. Over 40 percent of global trade passes through this channel, including 80 percent of China's crude oil imports and much of the energy supplies to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.”

Suez Canal

The Suez Canal is an artificial water passage that forms a direct link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. It saves ships from taking a long route through Africa. It became quite famous when the Ever Given blocked it in the year 2021 leading to a disruption of global commerce. 

As per Atlantic Council it “Attracts about 12 percent to 15 percent of worldwide trade and about 30 percent of global container traffic—with more than $1 trillion in goods transiting annually.”

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal links the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. It forms a significant bypass to ships sailing between the Eastern and Western sectors of the world. Without this the ships would have to cover far longer distances and forcing them to cover a 13,000 kms detour around South America. According to MOL Services, “Over 13,000 vessels transit the canal annually, supporting the global supply chain.”

Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a linkage point between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It forms the major passage of the ships heading to the Suez Canal. This is the oil strait that matters the most as far as oil shipments and trade between Europe and Asia are concerned. It is however sensitive also because of regional conflicts. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it was responsible for transportation of 4.1 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum liquids per day. 

Bosporus and Dardanelles (Turkish Straits)

The Turkish Straits, Bosporus Strait and Dardanelles Strait span between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. These waterways also play a vital role in the transportation of oil, grain and other products of the Black Sea area countries. They are well placed between Asia and Europe and thus have strategic importance. As per the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it was responsible for transportation of 3.6 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum liquids per day

Why Are These Bottlenecks Important?

These five bottlenecks in the sea play vital role in the global trade since:

• They transport a huge proportion of oil and goods in the world.

• They save on the time of traveling and freight expenses.

• They interlink the primary economies and continents.

• There will be effects of any disruption affecting global markets and prices.

Maritime bottlenecks could be viewed as tiny dots on the map, but they are gigantic in the world economy. These routes continue to provide the world with all its needs such as oil supply up to daily items. These chokepoints make us realize how interconnected global commerce is and how an issue in one part of the world can impact upon the whole world.

READ| GK Quiz on Strait of Hormuz

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