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.