Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Iraq’s main port receives large vessel for first time

BASRA, Iraq – A Jordanian investing company says Iraq has received a large vessel for the first time in its history, thanks to rehabilitation work on its main port.

The spokesman of Aloreen For Investment Ltd., Bahjat al-Timimi, said Thursday that the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Rita docked in the southern port of Umm Qasr on the Persian Gulf with a cargo of 2,641 containers. Al-Timimi added that the 325-meter long ship is the largest vessel ever to dock in Iraq.

The rehabilitation work, carried out in part by Aloreen, included boosting the port docks, increasing the depth from nine to 12 metres and enlarging the shipping channel, he added.

In a statement, the company said the improvements help shippers to Iraq who previously relied on transshipment points at other Gulf ports.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.