Grand Vandarch Canal: Difference between revisions

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==History==

From the [[Carolina Grand Canal]]'s opening in [[1880]] until the Grand Vandarch Canal's opening in [[1975]], the nations along the [[Carolina Grand Canal]] enjoyed a monopoly on maritime shipping to the landlocked countries, and major port cities of the Vandarch. Because it was controlled by and run through the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]'s countries of [[Urcea]], Kronenia, and Hollona and Diorisia it gave the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Empire]], and [[Urcea]] specifically, a disproportionate level of economic power in that region. The beginning of the Grand Vandarch Canal followed the formal dissolution of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], the end of the [[Second Great War]], and by extension the reduction of southern [[Levantia]]'s crushing hold on much of the continent. At the time it was celebrated by all northern [[Levantia|Levantine]] nations as a demonstration of modern, self-determinist northern [[Levantia]]. In southern [[Levantia]] it was met with a much cooler reception; nations along the [[Carolina Grand Canal]] were obviously not pleased to have their monopoly broken and the loss of considerable revenues in the form of passage fees and taxes. While it was loudly protested in [[Urcea]] for this reason, the economic loses would be stymying in Kronenia, and Hollona and Diorisia, who had faired far worse in the [[Second Great War]] and whose economies were not big enough to absorb the blow like [[Urcea]]'s.

In total, over the course of the 15 years of construction, the project cost 8.7 billion Talers, employed 640,034 people, and is estimated to have fed and housed 1.5 million workers, families, and persons who provided on-site goods and services. Financially, it was, like most other grand infrastructure projects, poorly managed, inefficiently run, and wasteful. However, it is touted as a massive human success. Service men and women coming back from the far flung battle fields of the [[Second Great War]] and were given stable employment, a roof over their head, and three square meals a day for the duration of the time they worked or lived in the canal zone.

==Incidents of Note==

===Canal Born Children===

The question of citizenship for children born to parents living in the international canal zone, Enfants nes della canal (ENdCs) (Eng: Canal Born Children (CBCs)) became a major issue for workers. For children with parents from the same nation with {{wpl|Jus sanguinis}} citizenship, the question was moot. But for parents of different nations or from nations with {{wpl|Jus soli}} laws the question was of major concern. In [[1970]] an Office of Canal Borne Children for Repatriation was formed as part of the International Red Cross and International Red Crescent. Volunteers were sent to the Canal to help parents work through citizenship laws and determine where they could go with their children when the work was complete. For the majority if the workers there was time to sort through the myriad hoops and red tape but for families of workers who were fired, invalided, or killed, the situation was more dire. A refugee camp developed nearer to the end of the project as tens of thousands of people realized they had nowhere to go. This lead to what has been coined the Vandarch Diaspora. The term refers to the children born in the canal zone between [[1959]]-[[1975]] and their descendants who often live in countries whose cultures and identities are not their own. This also coincided with the development of multinational unions with more restrictive collective immigration laws, worsening the issue.

===2015 Faucilh Sageta Obstruction===

In the summer of [[2015]] the [[Bulkh]]an flagged vessel {{wpl|Golden-class container ship|Faucilh Sageta}} (Eng. Rapid Arrow), operated by Sempre Lines LLC, a subsidiary of the [[Burgundian North Levantine Trading Company]], grounded in the Grand Vandarch Canal. The 400 m (1,312 ft 4 in) container ship was the first of its class and the largest ever to pass through the canal system. The grounding took place in the La corsette della sirene (Eng. The Mermaid's corset) portion of the canal, known to be the narrowest part of the waterway. A notable high cross wind was observed by the Canal Authorities during the time of the grounding. The {{wpl|Golden-class container ship|Rapid Arrow}} was loaded to 95% load capacity, drafting 19.7 meters. The crew was based in [[Peshabiwar]] with a captain from [[Umardwal]]. The load was mostly inexpensive consumer goods from a number of countries in [[Audonia]] bound for three ports in the [[Vandarch]].

====Certifications, licenses, and bill of lading====

{{wpl|Golden-class container ship|Rapid Arrow}} was completed in [[2014]] and had passed inspection upon receipt by Sempre Lines LLC. The ship had conducted 7 [[Levantine Ocean|trans-Levantine]] crossings since her launch by the time of the grounding and had reported no unusual maintenance or conduct issues. Her most recent servicing was 8 months prior and the engine work had been certified by the dry docking company in [[Levantx]] Chantiers Le Fontal Lenvantien. The bill of lading was mostly inexpensive consumer goods from a number of countries in [[Audonia]] and had been certified as evenly distributed by the originating port authorities in [[Antilles]]. The crew and captain all had certified in at least basic maritime [[Burgoignesc language|Burgoignesc]], the lingua franca of the nautical world. Initially it was determined that all of the crew and the captain were rated for their positions but later examination determined that the chief mate had forged his credentials.  

====Arrests====

The first arrest made was of the Chief Mate who was found to have only 348 days on his Able Mate's license (365 are required to be rated as a Chief Mate), and 48 fraudulent days on his Chief Mate's license. He was however found not to have been at fault for the grounding and had acted admirably under the circumstances. He was arrested for fraud, reckless endangerment, and impersonating an officer representing the nation and crown of [[Burgundie]] on the high seas. For the first two crimes he was sentenced to 10 years hard labor and for the latter death by keelhauling at the conclusion of his initial sentence.

==Layout and Operation==

==Economic Impact==

==Alternative Routes==

The [[Carolina Grand Canal]] is the only other waterway that connects the [[Vandarch]] to the international waterways and its shipping lanes.

==See Also==

*{{wpl|Suez Canal}}

*{{wpl|St. Lawrence Seaway}}

[[Category:Yonderre]]

[[Category:Levantia]]