Venezuela and Iran plan new shipyard

Venezuela and Iran have agreed to explore setting up a joint shipbuilding operation in the South American country with cooperation of the domestic shipbuilder Dianca. The memorandum of understanding was signed between Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) and Sadra Iran Marine Industrial Company with yards in Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and on the Caspian Sea.

The MOU between Marina PDVSA and SADRA will address the newbuilding requirements for tankers in Marina PDVSA’s 2005-2012 business plan. It will also look at the future possibilities for cooperating on LNG ship construction in both Venezuela and Iran and training Venezuelans in shipbuilding technology.

Ties between the two oil-producing countries have tightened as President Hugo Chavez has sought to build international alliances to counter U.S. economic and political dominance. The MOU with SADRA follows earlier announcements that Venezuela has been exploring shipbuilding ventures with Brazil and Argentina.