Rickmers orders quartet from Sadra Group

Sadra Group of Iran has been contracted by the German shipowner Rickmers to build four multi-purpose vessels. The Iranian shipbuilder will construct the 24,000 DWT vessels with the first unit slated for delivery in July 2007 and the last one during 2008.

The 175-meter vessels will be capable of carrying vehicles and will be used to ship cargoes between Europe and the Americas as well as on the Middle East-India route.

The national shipbuilding industry has improved remarkably in recent years, making Iran a major shipbuilder in the region.

Earlier this year, Offshore Shipbuilding Complex (OSOICO) signed a $500 million deal with Iran?s Shipping Lines (IRISL) on the construction of 16 vessels. The agreement includes six 75,000-ton Panamax at $35 million each and ten 53,000-ton Handymax vessels at $30 million a piece.

In addition, Shahid Darvishi Shipbuilding Company announced last week it is manufacturing a number of sea buses which are small passenger ferries able to carry up to 50 people and will used in the Persian Gulf. The Amvaj-Yaraq Company has also undertaken the manufacturing of sea buses.