Iran all set launch a shipping line to Europe, North and South American countries, as sanctions against Iran’s shipping industry has been recently lifted.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) has resumed its routes to various destinations across Europe, says IRISL managing director Mohammad Saeedi.
According to Tehran Times, Iran’s shipping lines to Europe had been cut for seven years under the western-led sanctions against the country, but shipping lines to Homburg in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium, and Genoa in Italy are now re-connected thanks to the removal of sanctions, he said.
He also said the country plans to launch a shipping line to South American countries, as sanctions against the shipping industry have been lifted.
“Just like a shipping line to Europe, Iran is planning to launch a shipping line to North and South American ports and there is no obstacle in this area,” he aadded.
“Given the country’s needs in the post-sanctions era, the volume of exports and imports will surge and accordingly, the number of vessels should increase to Latin America,” the official noted.
The IRISL chief noted that the planned freight shipping line would boost bilateral trade through the Iranian port of Bandar Anzali and Kazakh port of Aktau, both on the Caspian Sea.
Meanwhile, Reuters report that Iran faces a struggle to increase oil exports because many of its tankers are tied up storing crude, some are not seaworthy, and foreign shipowners remain reluctant to carry its cargoes.
Tehran is seeking to make up for lost trade to Europe following the lifting of EU sanctions imposed in 2011 and 2012, which deprived it of a market that accounted for over a third of its exports and left it relying completely on Asian buyers.
Iran has 55-60 oil tankers in its fleet, a senior Iranian government official told Reuters. He declined to say how many were being used to store unsold cargoes, but industry sources said 25-27 tankers were parked in sea lanes close to terminals including Assaluyeh and Kharg Island for this purpose.
