[June. 14th, 2016. Incheon, Korea] A regular container service connecting Incheon Port directly to the Middle East has been launched for the first time, which is just in one year after the Incheon New Port opened partially in June last year.
The Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced on June 14 that the Iranian state-run shipping company IRISL will put the “TOUSKA” with a capacity of 5,100 TEUs into the route. The Iranian container carrier ranks 22nd globally in terms of the trade volume handled.
The Middle Eastern route has been named “HDM Loof,” where three container ships with a 5100 TEU capacity including the TOUSKA will be put in the operation together with four container carriers of a 6,500 TEU class. The total seven vessels enter Incheon New Port at fortnightly intervals.
The shuttle service runs on the route of Iran (Bandar Abbas–Asaluyeh) – China (Qingdao-Tianjin-Dalian) – South Korea (Incheon-Gwangyang-Busan) – China (Shanghai) – Dubai (Jebel Ali) – Iran (Bandar Abbas).
According to the IPA, IIRISL, in the early stage of the operation, is likely to give priority to handling automotive parts imported from South Korea, which have a high demand in Iran while it watches and checks the port calling conditions and the port services.
The IPA expects that materials for large-scale infrastructure constructions including harbor, food supplies for Halal food and K-Culture products like cosmetics, home appliances and household items flow into the Iranian market later in the process of economic development by the Middle East country.
In the meantime, GH. Zahmatkesh, CEO of Compass Maritime that is the agency of IRISL in South Korea, visited the IPA and met Yoo Chang-keun, president of the IPA, to finalize business talks in relation with the opening of the sea route.
Zahmatkesh said, “I am pleased to see the opening of the new route connecting Incheon Port to the Middle East in the wake of restarting the economic cooperation between the two countries,” adding, “I will make a contribution to South Korea’s increasing the trade with the Middle East and Central Asia as well as Iran by vitalizing the service route early.
Yoo Chang-keun, president of the IPA, said, “It is very meaningful to open new route for Incheon Port and connect the port to Iran that has abundant natural resources and a big potential for high economic growth.” He added, “We believe that Iran will be the starting point for opening a new silk road to expand trades with Iran’s neighboring countries like the Middle Eastern countries as well as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.”