Latest news with #GeneralCompanyforIraqiPorts
The Star
08-08-2025
- The Star
Iraq detains oil tanker as part of smuggling crackdown, officials say
OFF IRAQ'S COAST (Reuters) -Iraq's navy has detained a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in its territorial waters as part of a crackdown on fuel smuggling at sea, sources with the navy and oil and transport ministries said on Friday. Smuggling is common in Gulf waters, where heavily subsidised fuel from some countries is sold on the black market to buyers across the region, though it has been relatively rare until recently for Iraqi authorities to seize ships. The vessel - identified by both the authorities and shipping sources as the Liliana tanker - was carrying 93,000 metric tons of fuel oil when it was intercepted earlier this week 26 nautical miles from Iraq's coast near Basra's oil terminal. Reuters footage showed an armed Iraqi military team boarding and searching the vessel on Tuesday with the crew being questioned and their passports checked. Another ship was also stopped and searched, the footage showed. Farhan Al-Fartousi, head of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, said the authorities had launched a comprehensive inspection operation after receiving information about smuggling and illegal oil operations in the area. "Any vessels ... engaging in suspicious activities within Iraqi territorial waters will be detained, and anyone proven guilty and anyone involved will be arrested," he told Reuters during an inspection of the tanker. The oil on board was suspected to be of Iraqi origin and was potentially being smuggled out of the country, the naval and ministry sources said. They added that the vessel would remain in the location where it was seized until its papers were referred to the judiciary. It would then be towed to a port for a court to rule on the matter. Liliana's ship manager, which was listed in shipping databases as Dubai-headquartered Babylon Navigation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The vessel's last position was at anchor off the Iraqi coast with its previous destination listed as the Iraqi port of Khor Al Zubair, LSEG ship tracking data showed on Friday. In March, Iraqi naval forces seized an unidentified ship in Iraqi territorial waters in the Gulf that was also suspected of smuggling fuel. (Reporting by Mohammed Ati, Aref Mohammed in Basra in Basra, Muayad Kenany in Baghdad and Jonathan Saul in London; Writing by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Straits Times
08-08-2025
- Straits Times
Iraq detains oil tanker as part of smuggling crackdown, officials say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox OFF IRAQ'S COAST - Iraq's navy has detained a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in its territorial waters as part of a crackdown on fuel smuggling at sea, sources with the navy and oil and transport ministries said on Friday. Smuggling is common in Gulf waters, where heavily subsidised fuel from some countries is sold on the black market to buyers across the region, though it has been relatively rare until recently for Iraqi authorities to seize ships. The vessel - identified by both the authorities and shipping sources as the Liliana tanker - was carrying 93,000 metric tons of fuel oil when it was intercepted earlier this week 26 nautical miles from Iraq's coast near Basra's oil terminal. Reuters footage showed an armed Iraqi military team boarding and searching the vessel on Tuesday with the crew being questioned and their passports checked. Another ship was also stopped and searched, the footage showed. Farhan Al-Fartousi, head of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, said the authorities had launched a comprehensive inspection operation after receiving information about smuggling and illegal oil operations in the area. "Any vessels ... engaging in suspicious activities within Iraqi territorial waters will be detained, and anyone proven guilty and anyone involved will be arrested," he told Reuters during an inspection of the tanker. The oil on board was suspected to be of Iraqi origin and was potentially being smuggled out of the country, the naval and ministry sources said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore 'This is home' for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar They added that the vessel would remain in the location where it was seized until its papers were referred to the judiciary. It would then be towed to a port for a court to rule on the matter. Liliana's ship manager, which was listed in shipping databases as Dubai-headquartered Babylon Navigation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The vessel's last position was at anchor off the Iraqi coast with its previous destination listed as the Iraqi port of Khor Al Zubair, LSEG ship tracking data showed on Friday. In March, Iraqi naval forces seized an unidentified ship in Iraqi territorial waters in the Gulf that was also suspected of smuggling fuel. REUTERS
Iraqi News
19-04-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Grand Faw Port Submerged Tunnel Second Section Completed by GCPI
GCPI Announces Completion of Placing the Second Section of the Submerged Tunnel at the Grand Faw Port Baghdad - INA The General Company for Iraqi Ports announced today, Saturday, the completion of the Placing of the Second Section of the Submerged Tunnel as part of the Grand Faw Port Project. The Company's Director General, Farhan Al-Fartousi, said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The engineering teams implementing the Submerged Tunnel Project were able to complete the Placing of the Second Section of the Tunnel after implementing a complex engineering operation that took place under the Khor Al-Zubair Navigational Canal, with a digging depth of 23 meters and a water level of 12 meters above the section." He added, "The completion of the Placing of the Second Section represents a qualitative advance in the implementation of the Submerged Tunnel and enhances the pace of work towards the completion of this strategic project, which is the first of its kind in Iraq and the Middle East." He explained that "the second section was entirely manufactured inside the designated dry dock, measuring (126) meters in length and weighing (45) thousand tons. It was equipped with advanced systems for balancing and steering, enabling it to be lowered and connected with high precision to the first section, becoming an effective part of the tunnel's structural framework." He pointed out that "the total length of the tunnel sections in contact with the water, including the sections within the Khor Al-Zubair Canal and the Umm Qasr approach, currently stands at (441) meters out of (1244) meters." He explained that "the tunnel, whose total length exceeds (2.4) km, is being implemented using the submerged tunnel method and to international specifications unprecedented in Iraq and the region." He added that "the tunnel will constitute a vital artery linking the Grand Faw Port to the Umm Qasr Port via an underwater land corridor, as part of the integrated transportation system, and will contribute to strengthening Iraq's role as a pivotal hub for maritime and land transportation in the region." According to the statement, Al-Fartousi praised the combined efforts of Iraqi personnel and the implementing foreign companies, saying, "The accomplishments we are witnessing today are the fruit of fruitful cooperation between Iraqi minds and international expertise, and reflect Iraq's ability to confidently move forward with the implementation of mega projects that match international standards."
Iraqi News
24-02-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Development Road: Completion rates of the first section reached 97%
The Director General of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartousi, announced on Monday, a remarkable progress in the road project linking the Grand Faw Port and Umm Qasr. "The work on implementing the road project linking the Grand Faw Port and Umm Qasr is proceeding at a steady pace. The total completion rate of the project has reached 97%," said Al-Fartousi in a statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. He explained that "the first layer of the road in the direction of Al-Faw city has been completed, and the second layer has also been completed. Only parts of the third layer remain as it includes 9 km on the return side and 26 km on the outward side." "All safety wall works have been completed on the two lanes of the road (outward and return), and lighting has been installed between Al-Faw city and the submerged tunnel, in addition to installing the necessary traffic signals," he added. Al-Fartousi noted, "The road being implemented consists of three lanes along 62 km, and includes 3 roundabouts and two bridges, in addition to a road intersection," indicating that "these components will contribute to improving traffic movement between the Grand Faw Port and the city of Umm Qasr, which enhances land transport movement and contributes to facilitating loading and unloading operations through the port." This project is considered one of the strategic projects that contribute to raising the efficiency of the transportation infrastructure in Iraq and reflects the Ministry of Transport's commitment to improving and enhancing the competitiveness of Iraqi ports at the regional and international levels, and is one of the most prominent projects of the Grand Faw Port.
Iraqi News
08-02-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Ports: Exporting 3474 containers of national products last month
Baghdad - INA The General Company for Iraqi Ports announced today, Saturday, the export of (3474) containers with a total weight of (79,992) tons of national products, through the ports for the month of January 2025. The company's Director General Farhan Al-Fartousi said in a statement - received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "According to the directives of the Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi, to organize loading and unloading operations, to speed up the movement of goods, the export statistics for the national product through the ports for the month of January 2025 amounted to (3474) containers, with a total weight of (79,992) tons." He added, "The materials that were exported through the containers included a variety of national products, including dates, cardboard waste (paper), aluminum waste, oil derivatives, soybeans and vegetable oils." He pointed out that "this result reflects a great diversity in national exports and enhances the role of Iraqi ports as a major driver of the national economy," stressing "the importance of maintaining this trend to enhance trade movement and support local industries."
