Q&A ยท 4:25:07-4:26:00

Shipping routes if radiation closes the Suez Canal

A Suez closure thought experiment links diversion around Africa with changing ship requirements and the wider consequences of radioactive contamination.

Question

What would the world do if the Suez Canal became impassable because of radiation?

Short answer

Ships would sail around Africa, and ship designs would probably adapt to that route. Whether the canal could be cleaned up remains open.

Notes

Ships would immediately have to divert around Africa. Ship design would probably adjust to the altered route. The cause of the contamination and the possibility of cleanup remain open. A joking Arctic diversion depends on much wider environmental consequences and is not presented as a normal substitute route. The hypothetical closure could be a symptom of a far greater disaster.