Artabanos Canal Project
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Artabanos Canal Project
Aims
The aim of the Artabanos Canal Project is to realise the plans drafted by the Confederal Government of North Diessen on request of the government of the Kingdom of Reitzmag in summer 2020. These plans were fully developed, but never realised due to diplomatic tensions. The Artabanos Canal Project's mission is to construct the second vital link between Caspian and Persian to benefit the Diessenian state.
Development
The Artabanos Canal will be constructed using already existing waterways and infrastructure as guidelines. As seen in the map below, two main river arteries, the Kızılırmak river in the north and the river Sakarya in the south, are connected by the small stream called Veleka, which is currently non-navigable to vessels over 3,000 tonnes. The Artabanos Canal Project aims to develop coastal and navigation infrastructure in the parts of the Kızılırmak and Sarkaya rivers designated as part of the sea link, and excavate the Veleka stream to allow major vessels to pass. The Veleka will be deepened to 15 metres at a minimum, with deeper stretches at several points where drydocks and military yards are to be constructed,
Plans call for the construction of four locks, each with a two-way transit system. This is a relatively small amount for the length of the canal, however, the Veleka is not subject to major elevation changes, running through the flat Plains of Linnich, a Confederal Nature Reserve. No locks are required at the Saraya or Kızılırmak stretches of the water link.
A railway runs from the mouth of the Saraya at Waspik in the south to Piushaove, in the northwest, at the point where the Kızılırmak opens into the Caspian. This railway will also be developed as part of the Artabanos Canal Project and used extensively to carry materials, excavated earth, and personnel. Confederal President Ekrem Mueller has used an emergency ordinance to designate this railway as crucial to government interests, meaning the government can use the railway exclusively for construction efforts.
Funding structure:
- Total projected cost: €11.6bn
- Confederal Government contribution: €3.0bn
- Artabanos Foundation contribution: €4.1bn
- Imperial Government of Inimicus contribution: €600m
- Private contributions: €2.3bn
Key Employees:
- Board of Trustees, including Confederal President Ekrem Mueller and Emperor Artabanos of Inimicus
- Chief Engineer, Layla Marini
- Chief Accountant, Hugo Bercow
- Head of Resources, Dahle Uguz
- Head of Personnel, Johannes Tagu
Estimated Completion Date: Summer 2022
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A Message From the Board of Trustees for the Artabanos Canal Project
Confederal President of North Diessen Nestor Karaman; His Imperial Majesty Emperor Artabanos of Inimicus; Chief Engineer Layla Marini; Chief Accountant Hugo Bercow; Head of Resources Dahle Uguz; Head of Personnel Johannes Tagu; and Six Other Unnamed Trustees
Today is a joyous day.
After a record €12 billion invested in the future of our region, tens of thousands of workers putting millions of manpower hours into the destiny of the Confederacy and Empire, hundreds of thousands of train deliveries of materials and equipment, and above all, a limitless spirit of optimism and determination, the Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the opening of the Artabanos Canal for commercial traffic from 1st August 2022.
A grand celebration, hosted by the President of the Confederacy of North Diessen and the Emperor of Inimicus, shall be held on Saturday 18th June, and the Board invites all friendly heads of state and equivalent statespeople to attend. Formal invitations are to be sent out in due course.
To further celebrate the opening of this vital second link between the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf, all vessels registered under the flags of any member state of the European Union shall enjoy free transit through the canal in the first three weeks of operation (exceptions apply**). This offer has been made possible by a further €200m grant from the Artabanos Foundation, for which the Board of Trustees is eternally grateful.
**This promotion shall not apply to vessels registered under the flags of the Kingdom of Reitzmag or the Clan Democracy of Strathae.
