Shipping Lines Keen for Cooperation with Iran
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
July 16, 2015
The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the country’s leading ports operator, the Tidewater Middle East Maritime Company, have been removed from the US list of companies designated for sanctions and assets freeze, reports Press TV.
International shipping lines are already stepping up port calls to Iran as the country’s massive maritime trade sector is emerging from the sanctions.
U.S. sanctions barred IRISL fleet of about 170 vessels from sailing in international waters. They also prohibited international shipping companies from calling on Iranian ports.
Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi, however, said earlier this month that ships from eight major international transportation companies had started to dock at Iran’s southern ports.
Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC), the world's second-largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity, welcomed the Tuesday nuclear agreement reached between Iran and six world powers and voiced its readiness to cooperate with Tehran.
In a meeting with Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) Mohammad Hossein Dajmar, MSC's CEO Diego Aponte said his company is willing to cooperate with the IRISL in diverse areas.
Germany and Iran are already in discussion to develop economic relations in the field of maritime trade and ports for increasing the trade volume between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Iran is prepared to set up shipping lines to Europe after implementation of the nuclear agreement reached between the country and six world powers, the head of IRISL announced.
The European Union has extended the suspension of sanctions related to IRISL for six months and "we are ready to launch regular shipping lines to the continent (Europe)," Mohammad Hossein Dajmar said.
