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Dr .Mohammad Saeedi, The director and the head of the board at Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) in an exclusive interview with IranNewspaper, proposed: in the sanctions era, sanction imposers had targeted Iranian shipping lines and intended to paralyze our economy in maritime transportation, MANA correspondent reported.

Those countries were aware of this fact that if they put sanctions into place against IRISL and its subsidiaries, 85 percent of Iran’s export and import operations will be disturbed.

On the other hand, international insurance clubs have cut their relationships with IRISL, this matter created restrictions and complexities for travelling of Iranian ships to the world ports in the sanctions era. 

He continued: international classification societies which issue technical certificates for shipping lines to travel in the international waters, have also cut their relationships with Iran, hence we were also deprived of these certifications as well. 

Generally, limitation of Iranian ships activities, having no international insurance coverage and lack of issuing certificates by international classification societies could be regarded as three major challenges of IRISL in the sanctions era.

Saeedi added: considering the bright horizons of Iran’s historical nuclear agreement, two months before the execution of JCPOA, we started to take necessary measures for removing all restrictions and regain our lost markets.

Our first step in achieving the determined goals was the reviving of our services which were terminated at the sanctions era.

IRISL was the first company in the country which made the best out of the existing potentials and just 20 days after the execution of JCPOA, it managed to revive the Persian Gulf-Europe line. 

He added that not only have IRISL already revived all its representatives around the world, but it also has opened some new representatives in different ports. 

emphasizing that at the present time, sixteen major world shipping lines call regularly at Iranian Ports, he continued: another significant post-JCPOA, was the revival of reinsurance coverage for ships, IRISL has managed to attain a 580-million-dollar multi-faceted insurance coverage for Iran's national fleet. 

This official continued: currently, many Iranian vessels are under the coverage of International Group of P&I Club, as a result, our ships could commute to ports in every corner of the world with no restrictions.

Pointing out that the revival of the IRISL brand in the international arena and turning it into an authentic and reliable global trademark in markets has been a short-term goal for the mega-fleet of IRISL, he remarked: Fortunately, in the light of attempts and measures, this company managed to promote its world ranking and stands in the 19th step with a four spot jump.

Emphasizing that development and renovation of IRISL fleet is one of our high priorities , Saeedi stated: IRISL signed a major deal with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. (HHI) to purchase 10 ships from the world’s largest shipbuilding company.

It should not be left unmentioned that the contract is the first of its kind in Iran’s post-sanction era and includes construction of mega container vessels with 14,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) capacity and tankers with 49,000 deadweight tonnages (DWT).