In mid-2010 Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines closed its regular liner service, European Container Line (ECL), between Northern Europe and ports in the Persian Gulf due to the sanctions imposed on the country. This line has now been reopened and fruit and vegetables feature among the most exported items, to the Port of Hamburg in particular.
The new service will be operating with 2,500teu container ships, calling at Hamburg and Antwerp, along with Genoa, Istanbul, Port Said and Bandar Abbas.
In addition, the SEVGI will be resuming the conventional liner service with multi-purpose tonnage between Northern Europe and the Persian Gulf.
IRISL’s liner services will be represented in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands by the firm currently being jointly set up by Peter W Lampke & Co KG (PWL) and IRISL (Europe), namely IRISL Agency (North), based in Hamburg and with branches in Antwerp and Rotterdam.
Germany is traditionally Iran’s largest trading partner in the West. Hamburg, in particular, where so many Iranians have settled and set up businesses, has for generations maintained very close and friendly relations with firms and state organizations in Iran.
