(CCC) Continental Canal Commission

The Eurussian Government welcomes the implementation of the CCZ Act.
The law effectively grants the sovereign rights of the lands to the CCC.

Hence, we call on our partners, Zakiristan and XIV, to discuss the project.

Zakiristan welcomes the passing of this act by the sc,were are also glad to work with Eurussia and Xiv.Zakiristan proposes we start construction so that trade can get up and running.

The Aloian government would like to offer the Commission a federal grant of √1,000,000,000 for the creation of the canal. A canal in that location would increase traffic in the Bay and increase business in Eastern Aloia and help Aloia as a whole. Aloia also welcomes the efforts to further develop the Eastern Continent and bring it up to the level of the Western Continent.

Rhodes United Industries and Progressum Technologies Inc., Aloia's top technological and engineering firms would like to offer their services to the project.

The XIV CCC Emmissary Committee to the CCC:


(OOC: the pictures were too wide to post right, so just click on the links, thanks.)

All input is welcome.

The CCC will control the land 5 miles on either side of the canal.

The canal will cross the continent in a straight line. To our knowledge, the terrain will not be problematic to the canal's construction. The budget allows for the creation of five bridges. All extra bridges should be privately funded and MUST be approved by the CCC. The canal widens between the bridges to lessen congestion. At each bridge, a traffic control center will be placed to avoid and fix problems as they arise.

Canal Path

The canal shall be 710 feet (approx. 210m) wide between bridges, and 200 ft (aprox. 61m) deep throughout its length.

Canal Dimensions

Each of the CCC sponsored bridges will consist of multiple levels.

Bridge Diagram

It is our opinion that the CCC should not prevent or inhibit the passage of automobiles or pedestrians on CCC sponsored bridges. Rail traffic may have to be taxed because of the extensive strain placed on the bridge. This toll should not be for profit, but should return directly to the maintenance of the canal.

The Governments of the XIV, Zakiristan, and Eurussia, as well as the CCC Monetary Partners*, having contributed to the planning, acceptance, cost, and construction of the Canal, shall not have their federal ships tolled for the use of the canal. However, private ships regardless of flag and nations that are not exempted above, will have to pay a toll relative to the size of the vessel. Also, any Navy wishing to use the canal for a war purpose (maneuvers, invasions, trade blockades, etc.), shall pay twice the toll regardless of flag.

A vessel who would break the canal treaty and use the canal improperly as defined by the CCC, shall forfeit ownership of the vessel and all of its contents to the CCC.

The money gained from the collection of tolls will return, in a way yet to be proportioned, to the CCC, and the CCC Monetary Partners

This is a rough draft of a proposal and in no way is it final.


*Monetary Partners includes all nations and organizations that have formally contributed funds to the canal. This would include the XIV, Zakiristan, and WDB member nations.

The NZ Ministry of Infrastructure and Development would like to express its concern over the use of Carbon Fibre suspension. Carbon fibre, though very light, is known to be highly brittle and not particularly strong. We beleive that this design flaw could lead to problems when faced with heavy wind gusts and/or natural disasters such as earthquakes. The Ministry of Infrastructure recommends that steel is used instead due to its incredibly strong tensile strength. A steel wire only 0.1inch thick can support over 500kg without breaking so it would be recommended that the cables are made of thousands of individual steel wires bound tightly together.

Eurussia is in high regards to the XIV Government for being the major proponent of this massive megaproject that will benefit the whole region as a whole. Hence, having this trust, we are confident of having XIV to lead the commission in bringing the canal into reality.

Our government hopes that we should start estimating the project first and get the funds.

It is our belief that Carbon Fiber, while being more brittle than steel, will provide a stronger and lighter construction material than steel. Granted, carbon fiber would not be a beneficial material in the construction of most bridges, but unlike most bridges, the CCC sponsored bridges will have well funded and frequent inspections and maintenance.

These cables are going to be made similar to the steel cables you mentioned, thousands of individual carbon fiber wires bound tightly together and encased in a Kevlar sleeve.

When deciding on a material, one must always weigh hardness v. softness (harder=stronger, but more brittle; softer=weaker, but less brittle). In this case, engineers from my nation chose hardness. The reason for this is the multiple levels these bridges have. A locomotive could cause significant stress to weaker materials. Like you mentioned, Carbon Fiber is a brittle material, meaning that instead of bending once its ultimate tensile strength has been reached, it fails. However, when compared, CF has a much higher ultimate tensile strength than steel.

[url=en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_tensile_strength#Typical_tensile_strengths]Typical Tensile Strengths[/url]

To conclude, we remain open for input. If the majority of the WA community and ultimately the rest of the CCC feel that steel is a better material for the suspension cables, then the bridges will show that opinion.

We do agree that CF has a stronger tensile strenght but we do also beleive that buildings should be able to bend/move when force is applied. We just are concerned that the use of CF will have a negative impact on the bridges ability to withstand heavy wind gusts and earthquakes, we only hold the intrests of the public and its safety as our number 1 priority. However if you insist on using CF we highly recommend, if not demand, that you use a sophisticated damper/shock absorption system at the base of the bridge in order to ensure that it remain capable of swaying and thus discharging the kinetic energy induced by heavy wind gusts and earthquakes.

Enough of the bridge we need to talk about the funds.Zakiristan is willing to fund the whole project but were waiting on you people to give us the green light.

Zakiristan. wrote:Enough of the bridge we need to talk about the funds.Zakiristan is willing to fund the whole project but were waiting on you people to give us the green light.

Eurussia welcomes the financing of the Zakiristanian Government. However, the XIV Government must disclose the full cost of the project as it stands as its main proponent.

Great Eurussia wrote:

Zakiristan. wrote:Enough of the bridge we need to talk about the funds.Zakiristan is willing to fund the whole project but were waiting on you people to give us the green light.

Eurussia welcomes the financing of the Zakiristanian Government. However, the XIV Government must disclose the full cost of the project as it stands as its main proponent.

Zakiristan estimates the cost could be $20 billion but we still wish XIV to disclose the costs.

Zakiristan. wrote:

Great Eurussia wrote:

Zakiristan. wrote:Enough of the bridge we need to talk about the funds.Zakiristan is willing to fund the whole project but were waiting on you people to give us the green light.

Eurussia welcomes the financing of the Zakiristanian Government. However, the XIV Government must disclose the full cost of the project as it stands as its main proponent.

Zakiristan estimates the cost could be $20 billion but we still wish XIV to disclose the costs.

As far as we could remember the estimated cost was around $450 billion dollars but with the additional infrastructures, the cost will surely triple.

Eurussia - It would cost $450 billion is a little lower than what we have estimated.
Zakiristan - $20 billion is MUCH lower than we have estimated.

$450 billion would be sufficient without the bridges, traffic control centers, levees to prevent flooding, and if we planned on using a lesser amount of labor. This canal is 450 miles long. To complete it in 5 years, it will take close to 100,000 skilled workers to complete it.

Labor will cost a total of $26b. Average of 50k a year per worker for 5 years, with some room for liability and extras. Statistically, people will get hurt and even die during this project.

Each of the bridges will cost between $1.3b and $1.5b depending partially on the materials chosen by the CCC (Steel or Carbon Fiber as discussed above).

At certain points there will have to be docks, peirs and other waystations. This adds another $5b to the total.

Levees are suggested, but not necessary. We currently do not have plans for this. However, if they were added, it would be another $5b.

We've included an extra $17b for unforeseen circumstances.

Grand Total = approx. $510 billion

Any left over funds will be remain in the CCC to be distributed as it sees fit.

As for funding, many have offered their support, but we have yet to formalize a way to become a Monetary Partner. Obviously, as members of the CCC, both the XIV and Zakiristan will be approved upon the arrival of their funds. But I suggest we formalize an application to become a Monetary Partner. Something like this altered WDB application:

Country : (full name)
Government : (formal type)

Exclusive Commerce Budget : (Commerce, from tracker)
Maximum Contribution : (Maximum amount of funds to be contributed to the CCC)

After a nation has submitted an application for partnership, the CCC will review it and for it to be accepted, 2 out of the 3 CCC nations must give it an approval and how much they think that nation should be allowed to contribute.

EXAMPLE:

Blah-Blah Land (APPLICATION FOR $5 MAX)

Eurussia approves application, contribution should be $5
Zakiristan approves application, contribution should be $3

Since 2 out of the 3 in the CCC approved, then Blah-Blah Land becomes a monetary partner. But, the contribution is only $4 (average of $5 and $3). Reasons for not approving an application could be because the contribution is too small or too large or that the budget is fully funded already etc.



As mentioned in previous posts, state-owned vessels of Monetary Partners pay no toll for the canal sponsored. This does NOT include private ships.

We beleive $510 Billion is a gross over estimate. We implore the XIV govt to run its figures once again.

OOC : The panama canal costed 14.3Billion USD at today's value (Back then it only cost them 639 Million, but you must count in that the inflation has dropped the value of the dollar. Thus why it would have cost 14.3 Billion if built today.) Therefore $25 billion would be acceptable if you were building a very very high standard canal. Either way anything above 30 Billion is just ridiculous.

Link : http://historical.whatitcosts.com/facts-panama-canal.htm

OOC: The Panama Canal is only 102 miles long. This project is 450 miles long. 15% of The Panama Canal travels through existing natural lakes. This project has none. The Panama Canal took 33 years to build. This project will attempt completion in 5-10 years. The man-made parts of the Panama Canal rarely reach the width of this project. For a RL comparison, it would be like digging a hole that's 1/8 mile wide from Kansas-Missouri border to the Kansas-Colorado. Perhaps 510 billion is an exaggeration. But it's not too far off considering the scale/speed of the project.

As for earlier, the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards steel instead of carbon fiber.

XIV wrote:As for funding, many have offered their support, but we have yet to formalize a way to become a Monetary Partner. Obviously, as members of the CCC, both the XIV and Zakiristan will be approved upon the arrival of their funds. But I suggest we formalize an application to become a Monetary Partner. Something like this altered WDB application:

Country : (full name)
Government : (formal type)

Exclusive Commerce Budget : (Commerce, from tracker)
Maximum Contribution : (Maximum amount of funds to be contributed to the CCC)

After a nation has submitted an application for partnership, the CCC will review it and for it to be accepted, 2 out of the 3 CCC nations must give it an approval and how much they think that nation should be allowed to contribute.

EXAMPLE:

Blah-Blah Land (APPLICATION FOR $5 MAX)

Eurussia approves application, contribution should be $5
Zakiristan approves application, contribution should be $3

Since 2 out of the 3 in the CCC approved, then Blah-Blah Land becomes a monetary partner. But, the contribution is only $4 (average of $5 and $3). Reasons for not approving an application could be because the contribution is too small or too large or that the budget is fully funded already etc.



As mentioned in previous posts, state-owned vessels of Monetary Partners pay no toll for the canal sponsored. This does NOT include private ships.

Eurussia is against any policy of free toll to monetary partners as all nations of the region will economically benefit with the project and this would be unfair to financially uncapable nations.

With regards to the funding, our government could ask a grant from the World Development Bank and other governments could contribute at their will. We also request the XIV Government to ensure that all necessary features of this megaproject must be included whatever the cost.

Great Eurussia wrote: Eurussia is against any policy of free toll to monetary partners as all nations of the region will economically benefit with the project and this would be unfair to financially uncapable nations.

With regards to the funding, our government could ask a grant from the World Development Bank and other governments could contribute at their will. We also request the XIV Government to ensure that all necessary features of this megaproject must be included whatever the cost.

Are you suggesting free passage to the world? or no free passage whatsoever?

We are heavily opposed to absolute free passage. Tolls will provide for the upkeep of this canal and any other canal the CCC gains authority over. Without tolls, the canal won't last. We continue to hold to the idea that ALL private ships should be tolled as well as warring navies. However, we should only consider a navy to be warring if it is fighting a nation that is officially recognized by the WA. Putting down colonist rebellions or fighting terrorists should not be considered war.

The monetary partners system is not something that is necessary to the project's success, and we would be willing to drop it. The idea was to find a way to secure funds for the project and to give benefits to those who contribute. In reality, fairness does not have a place in the world. Power will beat no power 9 times out of 10. It's the way society is. In capitalism, money is power; in communism, political power is power.

As for the WDB contribution, under the MP system, WDB member nations would be considered MPs if the WDB were to contribute.

The XIV hereby resigns from its position on the CCC. We are unable to actively participate further.

We strongly recommend that the CCC finds a replacement quickly. Because no nation has stepped forward to ask for our nomination, we believe that as the nation with the most outside participation in the CCC, New Zealand should have take the place on the CCC.

We hope that you decide to continue to use the plans put forth by the CCC, and we assure that our contribution of $100 billion will remain with the CCC.

The HPS while not in the CCC, would like to donate P£ 15 000 000 000 (15 Billion Patrician Liras) in order to see the beauty of the project and a push towards it's completion.

We would also like to send 100 000 workers to assure that the project is fully completed.

XIV wrote:The XIV hereby resigns from its position on the CCC. We are unable to actively participate further.

We strongly recommend that the CCC finds a replacement quickly. Because no nation has stepped forward to ask for our nomination, we believe that as the nation with the most outside participation in the CCC, New Zealand should have take the place on the CCC.

We hope that you decide to continue to use the plans put forth by the CCC, and we assure that our contribution of $100 billion will remain with the CCC.

Unfortunately, you may chose not to participate but you can't be replaced since the Continental Canal Zone Act is the source of our sovereignty over the canal. You can only waive your rights over it to leave the megaproject to Eurussia and Zakiritstan alone.