Details of new Iran service still awaited

AT A government level at least,
there’s been confirmation that a
regular liner shipping services will
run between Bandar Abbas port in
Iran and call at the Port of Durban.
However, the mechanics of the
route have yet to be decided.
The service will become
operational through a joint
investment of the Iran Trade
Development Organisation and
Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping
Lines (IRISL). While IRISL currently
has the occasional non-liner bulk
consignment calling in Durban, the
opening of a dedicated liner service
is set to promote non-oil bilateral
trade with Iran.
Nothing has happened as far as
getting a ship sailing between the
two ports is concerned, although
the political foundations have been
laid.
“Vessels will ply between
Bandar Abbas to the African ports
of Mombasa (Kenya), Zanzibar
(Tanzania) as well as Durban in
South Africa,” announced Iranian
Deputy Commerce Minister
for International Affairs, Mehdi
Ghazanfari, recently.
The IRISL agent in South Africa
is still awaiting confirmation of the
route framework and operational
plan, although the Iranian minister
did announce that the service
would be launched on December 6
this year.