A first batch of gantry cranes commissioned by India for operation in Iran’s Chabahar port has finally arrived in the coastal area on the Sea of Oman.
The two mobile harbour cranes (MHC) are part of the first consignment of heavy equipment worth $8.5m which will be used for loading and unloading services for goods in the first phase of development plan for Shahid Beheshti port.
As part of a deal for a total of six cranes, the two 140t cranes were acquired from Italian company Italgru S.r.l.
According to Behrouz Aghayi, local head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balochestan, the Indian government has a commitment to invest $85 million in Chabahar as part of a build–operate–transfer agreement with the PMO.
The map shows the location of Chabahar port in souteastern Iran
Chabahar is Iran’s only ocean port where the government has launched an ambitious investment plan to turn the location into a major hub of trade between the Indian Ocean and landlocked countries to the east and north of Iran.
India has been a partner in development plans for Chabahar, especially in efforts to build out its large container processing facility dubbed Shahir Beheshti.
Citing American sanctions on Iran as a barrier, India has repeatedly delayed the supply of investment and equipment to Chabahar. That has caused Iran to award contracts for development projects to either local companies or major firms from other countries.