08 March 2006
TEHRAN: The first Iran-made ocean liner, named Iran-Arak, will be launched next week, according to seana.ir.
The news agency said the Iran-Arak is the largest ocean liner constructed by a Middle Eastern country, adding that the project was undertaken by Iran Offshore Industries Company at a cost of $35 million.
Salman Zarbi, the project manager, said the vessel is one of the five shipbuilding projects implemented at the company, stressing that Iran-Arak took two years to complete.
"This vessel is (technically) similar to ships built in advanced countries," he said, adding that Iran hopes to become the first ship exporting country in the region.
"We are the first country in the Middle East to have started the shipbuilding industry on a large scale," he added.
Zarbi said the 9,000-ton vessel will have the capacity to carry 2,130 containers.
The news agency reported earlier that China has completed the construction of Iran Birjand vessel.
Iran's largest ocean liner is also being constructed by a German company.
Iran-Saei, which was named after Hadi Saei, Iran's taekwondo gold medalist at the Athens Olympics, is 300 meters long and is capable of covering 18,000 nautical miles non-stop in international waters.
Iran also announced that it is manufacturing a few sea buses as well.
The country needs to purchase 40 vessels until 2009. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has 140 member states with Iran among the top 20.
TEHRAN: The first Iran-made ocean liner, named Iran-Arak, will be launched next week, according to seana.ir.
The news agency said the Iran-Arak is the largest ocean liner constructed by a Middle Eastern country, adding that the project was undertaken by Iran Offshore Industries Company at a cost of $35 million.
Salman Zarbi, the project manager, said the vessel is one of the five shipbuilding projects implemented at the company, stressing that Iran-Arak took two years to complete.
"This vessel is (technically) similar to ships built in advanced countries," he said, adding that Iran hopes to become the first ship exporting country in the region.
"We are the first country in the Middle East to have started the shipbuilding industry on a large scale," he added.
Zarbi said the 9,000-ton vessel will have the capacity to carry 2,130 containers.
The news agency reported earlier that China has completed the construction of Iran Birjand vessel.
Iran's largest ocean liner is also being constructed by a German company.
Iran-Saei, which was named after Hadi Saei, Iran's taekwondo gold medalist at the Athens Olympics, is 300 meters long and is capable of covering 18,000 nautical miles non-stop in international waters.
Iran also announced that it is manufacturing a few sea buses as well.
The country needs to purchase 40 vessels until 2009. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has 140 member states with Iran among the top 20.
© Iran Daily 2006
