Iraq Resumes Commercial Shipping After 50 Years as Ship Departs UAE
An Iraqi-owned cargo ship departed the port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates today, October 21, northbound in the Persian Gulf. What makes the departure so notable is that it signals Iraq’s efforts to resume commercial shipping after a more than 50-year hiatus.
The country’s Ministry of Transport had announced at the beginning of the month the plan to restore commercial shipping. It cited the opportunities to increase the flow of goods in the Persian Gulf, along with supporting trade with the country’s neighbors. The report said the new initiative aligns with the strategic objectives to develop the country’s transport infrastructure and enhance its operational capabilities.
While the initial reports had said the service would launch in mid-month, it may have been delayed by the recent escalations by Iran. In a report put out by UK Maritime Trade Operations on October 21, it said it had been informed by a master that a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile. It called it a late report and said the incident had happened 30 nautical miles southeast of Al Faw, Iraq. Iraqi officials have not confirmed the details.
Experts note that most cargo has been flowing overland since the start of the war. Ports in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, outside the Gulf, have reported increases in cargo volumes as shippers sought alternatives to move cargo in the region, but the road and rail networks are lacking and believed to be strained.
Iraq has owned the cargo ship Basrah since it was built in 2014. The vessel is 17,787 dwt and measures 143 meters (469 feet) in length. Alphaliner reports it was outfitted to carry approximately 900 TEU. It is registered in Jordan.
The vessel’s AIS signal shows its departure from Jebel Ali Port today. It is reporting a destination of Kuwait, with the Ministry reporting the shuttle service would also connect to Iraq’s southern port of Umm Qasr.
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In April, the Ministry reported the vessel was being used to address strains on the supply chain and specifically food supplies since the start of the war in the region. Media reports highlighted the ship’s arrival at Umm Qasr loaded with a shipment of foodstuffs.
The Ministry highlighted that the last commercial voyages conducted by Iraqi cargo vessels in the region dated back to the mid-1690s. It called the resumption of the services a significant milestone in the efforts to reactivate national carriers and advance Iraq’s maritime transport sector.
