South Korea’s Incheon port has commenced a new regular container service connecting the port directly to the Middle East for the first time, backed by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced that Iran’s state-run shipping firm IRISL has deployed the 5,100-teu boxship Touska into the route, named HDM Loof.

Three boxships of 5,100-teu including Touska, and four 6,500-teu boxships will be put into operation into HDM Loof. As a result, a total of seven container vessels will enter Incheon New Port on a fortnightly interval.

The launch of the new container service followed the partial opening of Incheon New Port since June last year.

Yoo Chang-keun, president of the IPA, said: “It is very meaningful to open new route for Incheon Port and connect the port to Iran that has abundant natural resources and a big potential for high economic growth. We believe that Iran will be the starting point for opening a new silk road to expand trades with Iran’s neighboring countries like the Middle Eastern countries as well as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.”

The container capacity from IRISL is likely to give priority to handling automotive parts imported from South Korea, which have a high demand in Iran, according to IPA.

The Korean port authority added that materials for large-scale infrastructure constructions including harbor, food supplies for Halal food and Korean products like cosmetics, home appliances and household items will flow into the Iranian market gradually as part of economic development by Iran.

GH. Zahmatkesh, ceo of Compass Maritime, agent of IRISL in South Korea, said: “I am pleased to see the opening of the new route connecting Incheon Port to the Middle East in the wake of restarting the economic cooperation between the two countries.”

The shuttle service runs on the route of Iran (Bandar Abbas–Asaluyeh), China (Qingdao-Tianjin-Dalian), South Korea (Incheon-Gwangyang-Busan), China (Shanghai), Dubai (Jebel Ali), and back to Iran (Bandar Abbas).