Iran to Expand Shipping Fleet by March 2009

TEHRAN (FNA)- The managing director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines announced here on Friday that 27 ships will be added to IRISL fleet by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20).

Talking to IRNA, Mohammad Hossein Dajmar said that 18 of the ships will be delivered to the IRISL and the remaining 9 vessels will be given to its subsidiary companies.

The official noted that one third of the country’s import-bound and export-bound products are transported by the national shipping fleet, adding that by receiving the ships the figure will raise to 50 percent.

IRISL’s income in the last Iranian calendar year stood at above $1.6 billion, showing a 54 percent growth over the figure of its previous year.

The IRISL comprises 144 ocean-going vessels with the total capacity of 4.5 million tons of deadweight (DWT).