By John Lee.
The General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) has confirmed the signing of a contract with Dutch firm Fugro to carry out third-party surveying of the al-Faw navigation channel, in preparation for issuing internationally recognised Admiralty charts.
Director General Farhan al-Fartousi told the state-owned Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the survey work will follow International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) standards. The final report will be delivered to the UK Hydrographic Office for certification, enabling the channel to be classified as a "low-insurance-risk" route. This is expected to reduce transport costs and attract global shipping lines.
He added that the channel will also be equipped with modern, electronically managed buoys, an aviation-style lighting system from port to sea, and offshore monitoring platforms to analyse currents and weather conditions and send immediate alerts to vessels and port management.
(Source: INA)
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