Iranian port authorities say the country is planning to build a second ocean port as trade keeps flourishing in Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman.
Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Mohammad Rastad said on Wednesday that the planned port just outside the Persian Gulf along Iran’s southeastern coastline, an area known as Makran, would be capable of accommodating super-size ships.
“We have carried out studies to determine the best location for this port on Makran coasts and we have reached a general conclusion,” Rastad told the semi-official Fars News agency.
The official did not elaborate on the potential location for the port although he insisted it would be built along the coast of the province of Hormozagn and just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for nearly a third of global seaborne oil trade.
Iran has invested heavily in Chabahar, the only ocean port in the country located in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan.
Chabahar port is Iran's first deep-sea port.
Foreign investors have contributed to the development of Chabahar and its infrastructure as they expect it to provide a huge boost to trade between the Indian Ocean and landlocked countries to the east and northeast of Iran.
Rastad said the reason for building a second port on the Sea of Oman is to have a better and quicker link to Iran’s road and railway networks.
“Through construction of this port we will have better access to deeper waters so that we can accept the largest of ships with a minimum cost,” he said.