The ship arrived from the port of Hofsan and marked an important milestone in restoring maritime trade through the northern gates of Iran in the Caspian Sea.
Operations at Astara Port have been halted since December 2023 due to a sharp drop in Caspian water levels, contract-related issues and accumulation of 1 million cubic meters of sediment within the access channel. Following a detailed technical evaluation, the removal of the Driving work began in early April 2025.
To date, more than 150,000 cubic meters of sediment have been removed, allowing channels to resume and secure anchorage at number one on the quay.
The first ship to load export cargo
According to Saeed Rasoli, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organizations (PMO), the incoming ships have a capacity of 1,600 tons and are currently loading exports containing construction materials and minerals.
Rasouli noted that a suction operation of the dr is ongoing to further deepen the access channel using cutter suction and hopper suction dr. Additional measures are also underway, such as removing sediment banks and extending breakwaters to prevent resilients.
The strategic role of Astaro Port in the north-south corridors
Emphasizing the importance of Iran’s northern port within the International North and North Transport Corridor (INSC), Rasorli described the reopening of the port as a “first step” towards the long-term development of Astara. The plan includes expanding port capacity and strengthening maritime logistics infrastructure.
He added that increasing the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and the coastal province of Caspia and attracting private investment in maritime-centric projects is one of the key priorities.
Regional economic and international maritime impacts
The reopening of Astara Port not only stimulates regional trade activities, but also strengthens Iran’s international cooperation in maritime transport in Caspia, according to Rasouli.
MNA/MRUD