Mr Ataollah Sadr head of Ports and Maritime Organization said that the cargo handling capacity of the main commercial ports of the country will double by the end of the current Iranian year.
Mr Sadr said that USD 4 billion have been invested for development of ports, half of which has been made by the private sector.
He said that "When the development projects become operational, the cargo handling capacity of Shahid Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, Hormuzgan province, will increase from 3 million tonne to 6 million tonne, Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar, Sistan Baluchestan province from 2 million tonne to 6 million tonne and Anzali Port in Gilan province from 7.5 million tonne to 16 million tonne."
The official said that PMO will use its financial resources to develop the southern coasts of the country and built multipurpose ports. 60 small multipurpose ports are in the country, 40 of which will become operational by the yearend.
In November, Mr Mohammad Reza Rahimi the first vice president said seas and coastal areas are considered linking bridges that connect various countries, adding Iran that is a marine country with 5,800 kilometers of coastlines.
Mr Rahimi said that "This potential should be used in the best possible manner. Iran, as a country that has large coastal areas in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and Caspian Sea, enjoys high potentials in the transit sector.”
He said that "Developing the tourism sector, supplying fuels to vessels and performing activities related to marine industries are among positive consequences of using the capabilities of ports and marine structure."
