India has shipped two cranes to Chabahar Port after cancellation of a $30-million order with the Chinese Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries after delays delays. “Two 2-ton cranes with a value equivalent to $ 8.5 million, will arrive at Chabahar port as a part of the $ 85 million commitment of the Indian port operator in Chabahar. The new shipment complements other equipment so that there wouldn’t be any shortcoming concerning vessel traffic in Chabahar port,” states the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran (PMO) official notice.
These two cranes have been deployed at the Phase I of the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar. The cranes were delivered to the port in the mid January and the inauguration is scheduled on Sunday 31 January.
“India has supplied a consignment of two Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) to Iran’s Chabahar port, with a total contract value of over USD 25 Million under a contract agreement for supply of 6 MHC. The consignment of cranes arrived from Marghera port, Italy has been unloaded successfully on 18th January, 2021 at Chabahar port and presently undergoing trials run,” stated an Indian government release on 18th January.
India has formed India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) to develop and run the India-funded Chabahar port. The two cranes will enable IPGL to handle Container, Bulk and General Cargo.
The location of Chabahar Port has strategically advantage and high potential to provide connectivity among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries specially Eastern CIS countries to increase trade between these countries.