India sends second shipment of equipment to Iran’s Chabahar port

India has supplied the second shipment of equipment to Chabahar port in Iran. “Continuing with our commitment to develop Chabahar Port, second shipment of equipment reaches Shahid Behesti Terminal,” informs, Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, in a tweet. In January, India had supplied a consignment of two mobile harbour cranes to the Chabahar port, having a total contract value of over US$ 25 million. Located in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Iran’s southern coast, the port is being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost trade ties.
Last month, Ports, Waterways and Shipping (MoPWS) Additional Secretary Sanjay Bandopadhyaya had said two more cranes are standing for loading near the port near Venice, which will reach by March-end to the Chabahar port. He had said two more cranes will be supplied to the port by June-end.
Bandopadhyaya said after mobile harbour cranes are delivered, there are plans to procure rail-mounted cranes for which bidding is going on. Till January 31, 2021, about 123 vessels had berthed at the terminal and approximately 13,752 TEUs and 18 lakh tonnes of bulk/ general cargo had been handled there.
The bilateral contract between Iran and India was signed on May 23, 2016 with a total value of US$ 85 million ‎for equipping, mechanising and starting operations at the port under the first phase. In this regard, a special purpose vehicle — India Ports Global (IPGL), Mumbai — was incorporated under the shipping ministry.