So Close, Yet So Far And So Crowded
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Phillips Channel is a 1.96 nautical mile channel in the Strait of Malacca close to the south of Singapore. It is the most narrow point of the Strait of Malacca.
So close, but besides the marine life, there are plenty of obstacles in the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, linking major Asian economies of India, China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Over 94,000 vessels pass through the strait each year, carrying 25% of the world’s traded goods as well as 25% of all oil carried by sea passes through the Strait, mainly from Persian Gulf suppliers to Asia.
Additionally, contemporary pirates have attacked numerous ships along the strait and a haze caused by raging bush fires in Sumatra can reduce visibility to 200 meters.
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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