TEHRAN (Iran News) –Deputy Road and Urban Development Minister and managing director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) says Russians are eager to invest in Iran’s northern ports and Tehran has plans for long term cooperation with Russians.

Speaking in a presser, Ali Akbar Safaee said that Iran has signed a MoU with Russia for transit of 10m tons of goods and it seeks to complete Rasht-Astara railway for increasing the transit between Iran and Russia, adding that Iran is after long term cooperation with Russia and Russians seek investment in northern ports.

He went on to say that in the upcoming months, five new ships will enter the Caspian Sea, adding that Iran is currently working with Russia for entrance of these new ships to Volga River and the purchase of ro-ro ships from the revenues is underway.

Touching upon on the ambiguities of the 177 growth in transit in the northern ports despite negative container operation, he said that he emphasizes the figures regarding the transit from the northern ports are not big and considerable but one should realize that all of transit operation is not merely limited to container operation.

He added that for example last year the amount of transit was 564,000 tons but the figure has increased to 922,000 tons in the first half of the year although this amount is also not big but it can be a good signal.

Safaee added that Russians seek investment in Iran’s northern ports and they invest in the logistical sector. He added that Russia due to the Ukraine conflict is unable to transfer its cargos via the Black Sea and Red Sea and it is good opportunity for Iran to offer appropriate services to Russian.

He said that some 53,000 ships have entered Iranian ports or left them so far this year and the load and unload operation has done safely.

He pointed to the shortage of workforce in the marine transportation and noted that country faces shortage of 4500 marine officers for its under-3000-ton ships.

Safaee went on to say that construction of the big Makran Port is underway which will enter the new executive phase after studies and it will turn into the biggest Oceanic and strategic port of the country.

He also reiterated building of 58 vessels in different models are underway as 69,000b rials of projects have been defined for the Ports Organization for this year.