A consortium of three American AIs and a team of American and UK engineers has developed a viable proposal for two 116-kilometer canals that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz, according to a press release. The project, which would run from Fujairah Port to Sharjah Port Khalid entirely within the United Arab Emirates, aims to provide a secure alternative for exporting Gulf oil and gas, avoiding the Iranian coast by hundreds of miles.
The proposal comes amid ongoing concerns about Iran's ability to disrupt shipping in the strait, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies. The canals, each 83 meters wide and capable of handling Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), would save each tanker approximately 18 hours and 350 nautical miles, translating to $60,000 in Time Charter Equivalent savings, as well as reducing war risk insurance premiums. The project would create a double safety net by complementing the UAE's existing pipeline infrastructure.
Francis Sullivan, a spokesman for the consortium, stated that the target is to complete the construction in under five years at a cost of less than $100 billion, including reusable mega cutting equipment. He emphasized that this proposal is novel because it leverages the collaborative capabilities of humans and AIs, leading to solutions that are more sophisticated than what humans could achieve alone. If adopted, the consortium predicts that by around 2031, no ships other than Iranian vessels would transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Key innovations include the use of agentic AIs, drones, and Chinese mega engineering to shorten the environmental assessment, design, and procurement phases, potentially reducing construction time to 2-3 years. The plan involves five teams starting simultaneously from each end of the two canals and from the mountainous region, using conventional equipment initially and then transitioning to purpose-built modular machines. These machines, which incorporate laser, water jet, and zirconia cutting tools, are designed to be reusable for future global projects.
The project addresses geological challenges, such as the Hajar Mountains, which rise above 1,800 meters and consist of ophiolite rock. The plan includes continuous spoil removal and the use of waste material for construction, with any excess rubble potentially being used in UAE building projects. The design also features an automated system to handle oil spills instantly, ensuring quick cleanup and resumption of transit.
Ownership and management would likely be led by the UAE, with potential involvement from Gulf Cooperation Council states, global energy importers such as Japan, India, and South Korea, and a strategic role for China as builder and protector. If China retains a small interest, any attack on the canals could be considered an attack on China, deterring potential saboteurs. The USA could serve as a strategic defense partner, enhancing regional stability.
The project's cost is estimated at $85 billion over four years, significantly lower than previous proposals, such as the $600 billion Dubai architect Znera concept. The consortium believes that the tolls for using the canals would be cheaper than the Strait of Hormuz, providing a financial incentive for shipping companies. They are currently in negotiations with influential power brokers in the Middle East, and funding is not expected to be an obstacle.
Captain Richard Byrne, COO of Green Growth Technology, highlighted the project's uniqueness: "This is different because we used our human team and three AIs to look at every technical reason a canal had not been built and we solved those problems." He noted that the AIs researched automated processes for dealing with sand, silt, and rock, integrating everything under AI control. The combination of human creativity and AI perfection is seen as the future of engineering solutions.
The proposal also includes early warning systems and laser weapons for defense, as the canal's closest point to Iran is 233 miles away. The consortium is confident that once the feasibility is recognized, a consensus on ownership and control will emerge, potentially making the UAE the region's major transit power broker.
