WAN HAI 512

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PIL and Wan Hai first to call at Iranian port since easing of sanctions

SINGAPORE's Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Taiwan's Wan Hai Lines have resumed calls at Iran's main port of Bandar Abbas on their jointly operated China-Middle East-India CMS service after a two year absence. The resumption appears to be a first initiative taken by the main carriers since the sanctions against Iran were eased earlier this year, said Alphaliner. Main carrier networks dropped Bandar Abbas and other Iranian ports in 2012, following sanctions issued by the EU and US in relation with Iran's nuclear programme. Their first Bandar Abbas call occurred on July 22 with the 4,532-TEU Wan Hai 512 on its CMS service operated with PIL, MOL and "K" Line with the latter two Japanese companies opting out of the string. The service will also drop calls at Karachi and Mundra, which are now covered with the newly launched Asia Pakistan Mundra Express (PMX/APM), in which Wan Hai and PIL participate with Cosco and CSCL. The revised CMS will turn in six weeks with six ships of 4,200-6,000 TEU provided by Wan Hai and PIL. "K" Line will continue to cover the Far East - Western India-Pakistan trade through slots on the Hanjin-KMTC Far East India Express (FIX), while MOL will focus on the Straits-Nhava Sheva Karachi Express (NKX), jointly operated with Samudera. The only other carrier offering direct services between the Far East and Iran is Teheran - based HDS Lines (Hafiz Darya Shipping Company), which currently deploys a total of 20 ships of 2,200-6,500 TEU on this route. HDS Lines is listed by the EU as an entity linked to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities. Source : Asian Shipper