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International North–South Transport Corridor

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Maritime transport (or ocean transport ) or more generally waterborne transport , is the transport of people ( passengers ) or goods ( cargo ) via waterways . Freight transport by sea has been widely used throughout recorded history . The advent of aviation has diminished the importance of sea travel for passengers, though it is still popular for short trips and pleasure cruises . Transport by water is cheaper than transport by air or ground, but significantly slower for longer distances. Maritime transport accounts for roughly 80% of international trade , according to UNCTAD in 2020.

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105-476: The International North–South Transport Corridor ( INSTC ) is a 7,200-km (4500 mile) long multi-mode network of ship , rail , and road route for moving freight between India , Iran , Azerbaijan , Russia , Central Asia and Europe . The route primarily involves moving freight from India , Iran , Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation via ship, rail and road. The objective of the corridor

210-739: A "naval counterweight" to China's presence in Gwadar, as India sees the Gwadar Port as a manifestation of a strong China–Pakistan alliance that seeks to choke Indian investments in the Indian Ocean region. Scholar Christophe Jaffrelot states that Gwadar gives the Chinese a key listening post to monitor US and Indian naval activity in the Persian Gulf as well as a dual-use civil-military base for Chinese ships and submarines. India perceive

315-488: A MoU was also signed for financing of the planned Chabahar–Zahedan railway section of Chabahar–Zahedan-Hajigak railway, as part of North–South Transport Corridor , by Indian Railways 's public sector unit Ircon International . India had offered to supply approximately $ 400 million worth of steel towards the construction of this railway, as well as offered to finance construction of the Chabahar to Zahedan rail line at

420-522: A United Nations agency, and the Nautical Institute are seeking improved international standards for mariners. Satellite phones have improved communication and efficiency aboard sea-faring ships. This technology has contributed to crew welfare, although both equipment and fees are expensive. Ocean voyages are steeped in routine. Maritime tradition dictates that each day be divided into six four-hour periods. Three groups of watch keepers from

525-402: A cargo engineer works with the deck department during cargo operations, as well as being a watchkeeping engineer. A common engine crew for a ship includes: Many American ships also carry a motorman . Other possible positions include machinist , electrician , refrigeration engineer, and tankerman. Engine cadets are engineer trainees who are completing sea time necessary before they can obtain

630-664: A cost of $ 1.6 billion. India began shipping rail tracks worth US$ 150 million in July 2016, and in December 2016 Iran also allocated US$ 125 million toward this rail route. However, on 14 July 2020, Iran announced that it would be proceeding with constructing the Chabahar-Zahedan railway independently, citing delays in the Indian funding as the reason for dropping the partnership. The Iranian government has projected completion of

735-439: A direct threat and its response has been to help build the Chabahar port. Iran has stated that Chabahar is not a rival to Pakistan's Gwadar and invited Pakistan to join in its development. Pakistani analysts have endorsed the view, stating that Gwadar has an advantage by being a deep sea port and the expansion of Chabahar would in fact expand trade through Gwadar. Larger vessels that cannot dock at Chabahar could dock at Gwadar and

840-487: A long-standing agreement, signed in 2002, to develop Chabahar into full deep sea port. Bandar Abbas port handles 85% of Iran's seaborne trade and is highly congested. Whereas, Chabahar has high capacity with plans to expand it from its current capacity of 2.5 million to 12.5 million tons annually. Unlike Bandar Abbas, Chabahar has the ability to handle cargo ships bigger than 100,000 tons. Industry Analysts have highlighted there are long term plans to integrate Chabahar with

945-406: A major security threat in the region. Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province , in which Chabahar port is located, was also the stage for insurgent activity by the insurgent group Jundallah , which claims to be fighting for the rights of Sunni Muslims, and the local ethnic Baloch . In 2010, Jundallah fighters dispatched a suicide bomber to a Shi'ite mosque in Chabahar, killing 38 people. In

1050-695: A mariner's off-duty time is largely a solitary affair, pursuing hobbies, reading, writing letters, and sleeping. On modern ocean-going vessels, typically registered with a flag of convenience , life has changed immensely in the last 20 years. Most large vessels include a gym and often a swimming pool for use by the crew. Since the Exxon Valdez incident , the focus of leisure time activity has shifted from having officer and crew bars, to simply having lounge-style areas where officers or crew can sit to watch movies. With many companies now providing TVs and DVD players in cabins, and enforcing strict smoking policies, it

1155-754: A member of a country's martial navy . According to the 2005 CIA World Factbook , the total number of merchant ships of at least 1,000 gross register tons in the world was 30,936. In 2010, it was 38,988, an increase of 26%, across many countries . As of December 2018 , a quarter of all merchant mariners were born in the Philippines . A ship may also be categorized as to how it is operated. Ships and other watercraft are used for maritime transport. Types can be distinguished by propulsion , size or cargo type. Recreational or educational craft still use wind power, while some smaller craft use internal combustion engines to drive one or more propellers , or in

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1260-451: A plan to construct a 900-km Chabahar-Zahedan-Hajigak railway line that would connect Chabahar to the mineral-rich Hajigak region of Afghanistan. In 2011, seven Indian companies acquired rights to mine central Afghanistan's Hajigak region, which contain Asia's largest deposit of iron ore. The Government of India had pledged to spend $ 2bn in developing supporting infrastructure. In May 2016,

1365-756: A right of extension for another 20 years. The Armenia-Iran railway is called the Southern Armenia Railway project, which forms the key missing link in the International North-South Transport Corridor between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf . Prior to the feasibility study being completed, the Southern Armenia Railway was anticipated to be a 316 km (196 mile) railway linking Gavar , 50 km (30 miles) east of Yerevan near Lake Sevan, with

1470-742: A road from Delaram in Afghanistan to Zaranj at the Iran-Afghanistan border. Iran has also built a roadway between Milak , close to Zaranj, and Chabahar passing through Zahedan and Iranshahr . Through Milak, Zaranj and Deleram, connectivity has been established to the Afghan `garland road', which connects the major Afghan cities Herat , Kandahar , Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif . In March 2012, ships from India docked at Chabahar carrying 100,000 tonnes of wheat under humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The Afghan businesses have begun to shift from

1575-566: A ship, including Junior Assistant Purser , Senior Assistant Purser , Purser , Chief Purser , Medical Doctor , Professional Nurse , Marine Physician Assistant , and hospital corpsman , are considered administrative positions and are therefore regulated by Certificates of Registry issued by the United States Coast Guard . Pilots are also merchant marine officers and are licensed by the Coast Guard. Formerly, there

1680-465: A strategy referred to as " slow steaming ". A ship's complement can be divided into four categories: Officer positions in the deck department include but not limited to the Master and his Chief , Second , and Third officers. The official classifications for unlicensed members of the deck department are Able Seaman and Ordinary Seaman . A common deck crew for a ship includes: A deck cadet

1785-493: A time, followed by protracted shore leave. However, some seamen secure jobs on ships they like and stay aboard for years. The quick turnaround of many modern ships, spending only a few hours in port, limits a seafarer's free-time ashore. Moreover, some foreign seamen entering U.S. ports from a watch list of 25 countries face restrictions on shore leave due to maritime security concerns. However, shore leave restrictions while in U.S. ports impact American seamen as well. For example,

1890-499: A watchkeeping license. A typical steward's department for a cargo ship would be composed of a Chief Steward , a chief cook , and a Steward's Assistant . All three positions are typically filled by unlicensed personnel. The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing and serving meals; cleaning and maintaining officers' quarters and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores. On large passenger vessels ,

1995-422: Is intermodal or co-modal . A nation's shipping fleet (variously called merchant navy , merchant marine, or merchant fleet) consists of the ships operated by civilian crews to transport passengers or cargo from one place to another. Merchant shipping also includes water transport over the river and canal systems connecting inland destinations, large and small. For example, during the early modern era , cities in

2100-474: Is "30 percent cheaper and 40 percent shorter than the traditional route via the Suez Canal." Ship transport Maritime transport can be realized over any distance by boat, ship, sailboat or barge , over oceans and lakes, through canals or along rivers. Shipping may be for commerce , recreation , or military purposes. While extensive inland shipping is less critical today, the major waterways of

2205-516: Is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman . It serves as Iran's only oceanic port, and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti , each of which has five berths. It is only about 170 kilometres west of the Pakistani port of Gwadar . Development of the port was first proposed in 1973 by the last Shah of Iran , though development

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2310-465: Is a completely new chapter". — Shaida Abdali, Afghan ambassador to India, April 2016 . In May 2016, India signed a series of twelve memoranda of understanding which centered upon the Port of Chabahar. The trilateral transit agreement signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan allows Indian goods to reach Afghanistan through Iran. It links ports in the western coast of India to the Chabahar port and covers

2415-422: Is a person who is carrying out mandatory sea time to achieve their officer of the watch certificate. Their time on board is spent learning the operations and tasks of everyday life on a merchant vessel. A ship's engine department consists of the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems on board the vessel. Engine staff also deal with the "Hotel" facilities on board, notably

2520-616: Is a rail route connecting Chabahar with the India-promoted $ 11-billion Hajigak iron and steel mining project in central Afghanistan, as seven Indian companies in 2011 acquired rights to mine central Afghanistan's Hajigak region, which contain Asia's largest deposit of iron ore. The Government of India has pledged to Afghanistan to spend $ 2bn in developing supporting infrastructure including Chabahar to Hajigaj railway. All this will bring cargo to Bandar Abbas port and Chabahar port, and free Kabul from its dependence on Pakistan to reach

2625-511: Is already linked with Turkmenistan via rail and road routes. India and Afghanistan plan to extend rail route from Herat to Mazar-i-Sharif . Mazar-i-Sharif is already linked with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan via rail as well as via road routes with other central Asian nations. India's minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also stated that Indian companies could potentially invest over ₹ 1 lakh crore (US$ 12 billion) in

2730-672: Is already running training in Nagpur for the Afghan customs officials to be posted at Iran-Afghan border customs post built by India on the road built by India and Afghan ambassador to India announced that Indian shipments to Afghanistan via Chabahar will commence soon. Chabahar Port benefits from the protection of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran military bases located in Konarak, Iran , across Chabahar Bay to

2835-597: Is being financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). A memorandum of understanding was signed between ADB and the Turkmenistan government in February 2010, for a $ 350m loan as a special fund for technical assistance. The project loan was for the installation of signalling and communication equipment on the ongoing railway line, procurement of equipment and maintenance facilities, consulting, and for

2940-451: Is heavily involved in the project currently building new train lines and roads to complete missing links in the NSTC. Turkmenistan currently is not a formal member but is likely to have a road connectivity to the corridor. Prime Minister Modi during a state visit to Turkmenistan formally invited it to become a member state on the project, "I also proposed that Turkmenistan becomes a member of

3045-406: Is not surprising that the bar is now a much quieter place on most ships. In some instances games consoles are provided for the officers and crew. The officers enjoy a much higher standard of living on board ocean-going vessels. Crews are generally poorly paid, poorly qualified and have to complete contracts of approximately 9 months before returning home on leave. They often come from countries where

3150-521: Is strategically important railway crossroad of the Trans-Caspian Railway ( Caspian Sea , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan and eastern Kazakhstan ) and North-South Transnational Railway. The city has a large locomotive repair depot and a modern passenger and freight railway station. In December 2014 the railway opened. Armenia–Iran Railway Concession, also called as Southern Armenia Railway or North-South Railway Corridor, as of April 2017,

3255-466: Is the fastest way to reach India . Iranrud (Iran's river) is a plan to build a canal from Caspian sea to Indian Ocean, with two routes, a river through Dasht-e Lut and another canal to Lake Urmia and after that to Persian Gulf . The idea of linking the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea by a canal was developed already in the late 19th century. Dry runs of two routes were conducted in 2014,

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3360-601: Is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai , Moscow , Tehran , Baku , Bandar Abbas , Astrakhan , Bandar Anzali , etc. Dry runs of two routes were conducted in 2014, the first was Mumbai to Baku via Bandar Abbas and the second was Mumbai to Astrakhan via Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Bandar Anzali. The objective of the study was to identify and address key bottlenecks . The results showed transport costs were reduced by "$ 2,500 per 15 tons of cargo". Other routes under consideration include via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan . This will also synchronize with

3465-538: The American presence in Afghanistan , India, Iran and Afghanistan got together in January 2003, agreeing on a joint development of transportation links to Afghanistan. India agreed to expand the Chabahar port and to lay a railway track between Chabahar and Zaranj . Iran has completed 70 percent of the first phase of the Chabahar project at a cost of $ 340 million. India has spent $ 134 million during 2005–2009 to construct

3570-533: The Ashgabat agreement , a Multimodal transport agreement signed by India (2018), Oman (2011), Iran (2011), Turkmenistan (2011), Uzbekistan , (2011) Kazakhstan (2015) (figure in the bracket indicates the year of joining the agreement) , for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. This route will be operationalised by mid-January 2018. The primary objective of

3675-560: The Bandar Abbas port, which currently handles 85% of Iran's seaborne trade, as a hub for trade with Russia and Europe. The highly congested Bandar Abbas port is not a deep water port and cannot handle the 250,000-ton oceangoing cargo ships . At present, such ships dock in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the cargo is transferred to smaller, 100,000-ton ships for onward shipment to Iran. This makes Iran dependent on

3780-739: The Caspian Sea . The port has been integrated with the NSTC to improve its maritime connectivity across the Caspian Sea. Iran has invested 22 million dollars in the port and plan to increase investment by 10% to expand the port. The Current capacity is 600,000 tons but there is plans to increase this to 3 million tons. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are the main producers of grains which will be exported to Africa through Iran Bandar Abbas port. The port will allow Russian goods to reach inland provinces of Iran faster and cheaper. Product from Russia , Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan can be sent to India through Iran's Bandar Abbas port which

3885-588: The Chabahar Special Economic zone . He however stated that potential investments would depend on whether Iran would be willing to supply Indian projects with natural gas at tariffs substantially lower than those offered by Iran. In March 2017, India has invited expression of interest from private parties to manage the port for 10 years, Adani Group and Ruia family's Essar Group are interested, and India announced that port equipment such as crane etc. will be procured soon. In March 2017, India

3990-758: The Chabahar-Hajigaj railway , with potential for several times more trade via connectivity to 7,200-km-long multi-mode North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting to Europe and Turkey, R297 Amur highway and Trans-Siberian Highway across Russia, and planned Herat to Mazar-i-Sharif railway providing access to Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan . Chabahar Port also provides direct access to India's Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan. Chabahar route will result in 60% reduction in shipment costs and 50% reduction in shipment time from India to Central Asia . India had initially proposed

4095-1135: The Hanseatic League began taming Northern Europe 's rivers and harbors. Similarly, the Saint Lawrence Seaway connects the port cities on the Great Lakes in Canada and the United States with the Atlantic Ocean shipping routes, while the various Illinois canals connect the Great Lakes and Canada with New Orleans . Ores, coal, and grains can travel along the rivers of the American Midwest to Pittsburgh or to Birmingham , Alabama. Professional mariners are known as merchant seamen, merchant sailors, and merchant mariners, or simply seamen, sailors, or mariners. The terms "seaman" or "sailor" may also refer to

4200-623: The Indian Ocean . Being close to Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries of Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan and others, it has been termed the "Golden Gate" to these landlocked countries. Chabahar is 700 km (430 mi) away from Zahedan , the capital of the Sistan and Baluchistan province, 950 km (590 mi) away from Milak , the closest city to the Afghan border, and 1,827 km (1,135 mi) away from Sarakhs on

4305-484: The Industrial Revolution had its first impacts where cheap water transport by canal, navigations, or shipping by all types of watercraft on natural waterways supported cost-effective bulk transport . Containerization revolutionized maritime transport starting in the 1970s. "General cargo" includes goods packaged in boxes, cases, pallets, and barrels. When a cargo is carried in more than one mode, it

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4410-554: The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots notes a trend of U.S. shipping terminal operators restricting seamen from traveling from the ship to the terminal gate. Furthermore, in cases where transit is allowed, special "security fees" are at times assessed. Such restrictions on shore leave, coupled with reduced time in port, translate into longer periods at sea. Mariners report that extended periods at sea living and working with shipmates, who for

4515-557: The Steward's Assistant , the chief cook , and other Steward's Department crewmembers. In the United States Merchant Marine , a chief steward must have a Merchant Mariner's Document issued by the United States Coast Guard . Because of international law , conventions, and agreements , all chief cooks who sail internationally are similarly documented by their respective countries. Staff officer positions on

4620-436: The sewage , lighting, air conditioning and water systems. They deal with bulk fuel transfers, and require training in firefighting and first aid , as well as in dealing with the ship's boats and other nautical tasks- especially with cargo loading/discharging gear and safety systems, though the specific cargo discharge function remains the responsibility of deck officers and deck workers. On LPG and LNG tankers , however,

4725-569: The 2020s, its successor, Jaish ul-Adl , continues terror attacks in the Baloch insurgency . American policy analyst Rorry Daniels has characterized both the Indian investment in Chabahar and the Chinese investment in Gwadar as generating perceptions of "strategic encirclement". According to her, China fears encirclement by the US, India by China, and Pakistan by India. All of these encirclements are seen by

4830-718: The 4 month mark for officers, with generous leave. Most ocean-going vessels now operate an unmanned engine room system allowing engineers to work days only. The engine room is computer controlled by night, although the duty engineer will make inspections during unmanned operation. Engineers work in a hot, humid, noisy atmosphere. Communication in the engine room is therefore by hand signals and lip-reading, and good teamwork often stands in place of any communication at all. The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse gas emissions , acoustic , and oil pollution . The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping were equal to 2.2% of

4935-753: The Catering Department is headed by the Chief Purser and managed by Assistant Pursers. Although they enjoy the benefits of having officer rank, they generally progress through the ranks to become pursers. Under the pursers are the department heads – such as chief cook, head waiter, head barman etc. They are responsible for the administration of their own areas. The chief steward also plans menus and compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records. They may requisition or purchase stores and equipment. They may bake bread, rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries. A chief steward's duties may overlap with those of

5040-443: The Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan , and Uzbekistan , which is made possible by the Chabahar port. But, in the long run, the pipeline-to-road-to-rail-to-sea-to-road shipment costs through Chabahar should be circumvented by direct transit through Pakistan. So far, Pakistan has been reluctant to provide such access. The US State Department does not currently see military cooperation between Iran and India as part of

5145-510: The Chabahar project, although it has cautioned India to remain within the legal parameters with respect to collaboration with Iran. The US also sees the Indian presence in greater Central Asia beneficial for spreading the soft power of democratic and friendly regimes. India hopes to see the Western countries use the Chabahar route to link to Afghanistan and reduce their dependence on Pakistan. Padukone agrees that India has need for establishing

5250-680: The International North South Transport Corridor." The NSTC route through Azerbaijan allows India–Iran–Azerbaijan–Russia–Kazakhstan transport connectivity. Iran started construction work to complete the missing link of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway (205 km; 127 miles) and road including part of the Rasht-Astara section (164 km; 102 miles). It involves construction of 369 km (230 miles) of bridges and railway line to link

5355-522: The Iranian border near Meghri . On 24 January 2013, during an announcement and press conference, the previously signed concession agreement was announced and a separate tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed in Yerevan by Rasia FZE, Russian Railways ( RZD ) subsidiary South Caucasus Railway, and the government of Armenia concerning technical cooperation, investment, and the future operation of

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5460-566: The Karachi port to Chabahar port for transit. In 2016, India signed a deal with Iran entailing $ 8 billion investment in Chabahar port and industries in Chabahar Special Economic Zone, including an aluminium smelter and a urea making facility, at Chabahar port is being developed was a transit route to Afghanistan and central Asia. India has already built a 240-km road connecting Afghanistan with Iran. Also in planning

5565-550: The May 2016 agreements, Chabahar's capacity will be increased to 8 million tons from the current 2.5 million ton capacity. The investment is supplemented with a $ 150 million credit line to Iran through the Exim Bank of India . India has also offered to supply $ 400 million worth of steel towards the construction of a rail link between Chahbahar and Zahedan . Indian commitments to Iranian infrastructure could total $ 635 million as per

5670-978: The Ministry of Jahad-e Sazandegi (or jihad for construction) took them over. The Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) caused Chabahar to gain in logistical and strategic importance. War brought insecurity to the Strait of Hormuz and ships were unable to enter the Persian Gulf. Accordingly, Chabahar became a major port during the war. The Chabahar port actually contains two separate ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti . Between 1982 and 1983, Iran constructed four 45 meters (150 feet) berths at Shahid Kalantari and four 150 meters (492 feet) berths at Shahid Beheshti. Two larger berths, 235 meters (771 feet) and 265 meters (869 feet) meters long, were constructed in 1997 and 2004 respectively. In August 2017, Indian Union Minister of Ports, Nitin Gadkari, informed at an event in Iran that

5775-496: The NSTC project is to reduce costs in terms of time and money over the traditional route currently being used. Analysts predict by having improved transport connectivity between Russia , Central Asia , Iran and India their respective bilateral trade volumes will increase. A study conducted by the ' Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) www.fffai.org found the route is, "30% cheaper and 40% shorter than

5880-681: The NSTC, "India is also eyeing trade with Europe via Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor". The Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran railway link, completed and operationalized in 2014, also known as North–South Transnational Corridor, is a 677 km (421 mi) long railway line connecting Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan with Iran and the Persian Gulf . It links Uzen in Kazakhstan with Bereket - Etrek in Turkmenistan and ends at Gorgan in Iran's Golestan province. In Iran,

5985-587: The Portuguese in the 17th century entered this region. Modern Chabahar dates back to around 1970, when it was declared a municipality, and large port projects were started by order of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , the Shah of Iran. The Shah planned to construct a $ 600 million naval base at Chabahar, mostly employing American companies as contractors. The American naval officials held talks with their Iranian counterparts on securing an "option" to operate out of Chabahar in

6090-495: The Southern Armenia Railway. Rasia FZE announced its appointment of China Communications Construction Company as the "lead member of the development consortium" for the project and the commencement of the feasibility study. Following a meeting on 3 September 2013 with Serzh Sargsyan , the President of Armenia , President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation stated that Russian Railways can invest about RUB 15 billion in

6195-798: The Taliban regime with more policy options and reduce its dependence on Pakistan. During the 1990s Iran and India, along with Russia, collaborated in backing the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan against the Pakistan-backed Taliban . At this time, Iran invited India to develop the Chabahar port to obtain ready access to Afghanistan. In 1997, a trilateral agreement was signed with Turkmenistan to expand trade into Central Asia and, in 2000, another agreement with Russia to provide seamless transport between India and Europe via an International North-South Transport Corridor . After

6300-598: The Turkmen border. The marine distance to Dubai is 353 nautical miles (654 kilometres; 406 miles), to Karachi in Pakistan is 456 nmi (845 km; 525 mi), and to Mumbai in India is 843 nmi (1,560 km; 970 mi) . Pakistan's deep sea port at Gwadar is also on the Makran coast, at a distance of a mere 76 nautical miles. Gwadar also claims to provide access to Central Asia, and comparisons between

6405-573: The UAE for shipments and represents a loss of revenue. Unlike Bandar Abbas, Chabahar has the ability to handle standard cargo ships. A former port named Tis in Chabahar's neighborhood dates back to the Sasanian times, and was known to Ptolemy as "Tesa". Alberuni wrote that the sea coast of India commences with Tis. The Portuguese forces under Afonso de Albuquerque gained control of Chabahar and Tis, staying there until 1621. The British, and later

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6510-618: The West. Chronic instability in Afghanistan may limit the usefulness of Chabahar as a conduit to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Road networks between Chabahar and Afghanistan rely upon connections to the Afghan Ring Road . In August 2016, insurgent activity by Afghanistan's Taliban insurgent group forced closure of the Ring Road between Kandahar and Helmand Province . After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, IS-KP became

6615-413: The Western pressure to apply sanctions . Iran is also believed to have a shown a preference for Iranian contractors instead of Indians. The initiative was restarted in August 2012 in a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of a Non-Aligned Summit. "This is a very, very crucial agreement for Afghanistan. The opening of this corridor will help us to fully reach our potential, give us a new trade route. This

6720-677: The attraction is a life unencumbered with the restraints of life ashore. Seagoing adventure and a chance to see the world also appeal to many seafarers. Whatever the calling, those who live and work at sea invariably confront social isolation. Findings by the Seafarer's International Research Center indicate a leading cause of mariners leaving the industry is "almost invariably because they want to be with their families." U.S. merchant ships typically do not allow family members to accompany seafarers on voyages. Industry experts increasingly recognize isolation, stress, and fatigue as occupational hazards. Advocacy groups such as International Labour Organization,

6825-461: The average industrial wage is still very low, such as the Philippines or India . Officers however, come from all over the world and it is not uncommon to mix the nationality of the officers on board ships. Officers are often the recipients of university degrees and have completed vast amounts of training in order to reach their rank. Officers benefit e.g. by having larger, more comfortable cabins and table service for their meals. Contracts average at

6930-487: The case of jet boats, an inboard water jet. In shallow-draft areas, such as the Everglades , some craft, such as the hovercraft , are propelled by large pusher-prop fans. Most modern merchant ships can be placed in one of a few categories, such as: Ocean liners are usually strongly built with a high freeboard to withstand rough seas and adverse conditions encountered in the open ocean, having large capacities for fuel, food and other consumables on long voyages. These were

7035-493: The civil work at Chabahar port developed by India is complete, and the Indian government is ordering INR 400 crores (US$ 63 million) worth of mechanised equipment and cranes, and the port will be operational in 2018 to export Indian wheat to Afghanistan. after meeting with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, he said "now, we are building a railway line in Iran. From Chabhar, we can go to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Russia." In August 2017, India Global Ports Limited (IGPL) had applied for

7140-517: The construction of the Chabahar-Zahedan rail link independently, citing delays in the proposed funding from India. Iran issued a statement, clarifying that while the funding of the rail link by IRCON had come up in negotiations, it had not been agreed upon between India and Iran. In late February 2024, the Taliban -led government of Afghanistan announced an investment of $ 35 million in the Chabahar port in southern Iran. According to The Diplomat , cooperation between Afghanistan and Iran can provide

7245-454: The conventional deep sea Suez Canal route is another major advantage of this route, taking into account geostrategic and economic diplomacy for all the involved countries, particularly Iran and Russia, both of which are subject to U.S. sanctions, in addition to the fact that it is more cost-effective and saves a significant amount of travel time. According to a survey by ‘Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI) found INSTC

7350-524: The current traditional route". Analysts predict the corridor is likely to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai , Moscow , Tehran , Baku , Bandar Abbas , Astrakhan , Bandar Anzali etc. Russia, Iran and India signed the agreement for the NSTC project on 16 May 2002. All three countries are founding member states on the project. Other important member states include Azerbaijan , Armenia , Kazakhstan and Belarus with other states having varying levels of involvement. Azerbaijan

7455-464: The development of the Armenian Railway. In mid-September 2013, Rasia FZE announced in a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan the achievement of a key milestone for the Southern Armenia Railway, including the release of a highly favorable feasibility study and the recommended railway design route from China Communications Construction Company. Having reached this key milestone, Rasia FZE moved to secure essential regional cooperation for

7560-539: The engine and deck departments work four hours on then have eight hours off watch keeping. However, there are many overtime jobs to be done daily. This cycle repeats endlessly, 24 hours a day while the ship is at sea. Members of the steward department typically are day workers who put in at least eight-hour shifts. Operations at sea, including repairs, safeguarding against piracy , securing cargo, underway replenishment , and other duties provide opportunities for overtime work. Service aboard ships typically extends for months at

7665-404: The engine department. Mariners spend much of their life beyond the reach of land. They sometimes face dangerous conditions at sea or on lakes – the fishing port of Gloucester, Massachusetts has a seaside memorial listing over 10,000 fishermen who lost their lives to the sea, and the Great Lakes have seen over 10,000 lost vessels since the 1800s, yet men and women still go to sea. For some,

7770-452: The event of an emergency. However, in 1977, the Shah got strapped for cash, caught in a tug of war between the OPEC and western oil companies over oil prices, and the construction of Chabahar base was postponed. Soon afterwards, the Shah was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian revolution . After the Iranian revolution, the foreign companies left the projects and Iranian public companies linked to

7875-466: The financing, construction and operation stages of the project. The feasibility study results indicated that the Southern Armenia Railway would cost approximately US $ 3.5 billion to construct, have a length of 305 kilometers (190 miles) from Gagarin to Agarak, and provide a base operating capacity of 25 million tons per annum. The railway will have 84 bridges spanning 19.6 kilometers (12¼ miles) and 60 tunnels of 102.3 kilometers (63½ miles), comprising 40% of

7980-402: The first was Mumbai to Baku via Bandar Abbas and the second was Mumbai to Astrakhan via Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Bandar Anzali. The objective of the study was to identify and address key bottlenecks . The results showed transport costs were reduced by "$ 2,500 per 15 tons of cargo". Other routes under consideration include via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan . A dry run of container movement via

8085-412: The global human-made emissions in 2012 and expects them to rise 50 to 250 percent by 2050 if no action is taken. The IEA forecasts that ammonia will meet approximately 45% of shipping fuel demands by 2050. For a port to efficiently send and receive cargo, it requires infrastructure : docks, bollards, pilings, cranes, bulk cargo handling equipment, and so on – equipment and organization supporting

8190-475: The green corridor was conducted during April 2017 to test and verify the smooth customs facilitation, connecting India with Russia and Europe via Iran. On 7 July 2022, Russian company RZD Logistics announced that it has successfully completed its first transport of goods to India via the INSTC. This statement was also confirmed by Iranian and Indian trade companies. The positioning of the INSTC as an alternative to

8295-601: The main stay of most passenger transport companies, however, due to the growth of air travel, the passenger ships saw a steady decline. Cruise ships later filled the void and are primarily used by people who still have a love of the sea and offer more amenities than the older passenger ships. A cargo ship sailing from a European port to a US one will typically take 10–12 days depending on water currents and other factors. In order to make container ship transport more economical, ship operators sometimes reduce cruising speed, thereby increasing transit time, to reduce fuel consumption,

8400-480: The management and supervision of construction. The project also received a loan of $ 371.2m from the Islamic Development Bank in July 2010. In May 2013, a Bereket – Uzen section was completed. In February 2014, 256 km (159 mi) long section between Bereket and Etrek was constructed. Currently, railway stations along the new railway are being constructed. Bereket city ( Kazandjik )

8505-443: The most part are strangers, takes getting used to. At the same time, there is an opportunity to meet people from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Recreational opportunities have improved aboard some U.S. ships, which may feature gyms and day rooms for watching movies, swapping sea stories , and other activities. And in some cases, especially tankers, it is possible for a mariner to be accompanied by members of his family. However,

8610-525: The multinational Chabahar port project from its sanctions against Iran due to its economic importance to Afghanistan. In February 2019, Afghanistan Launches New Export Route To India Through Chabahar Port. At the inauguration of the new export route, officials said 23 trucks carrying 57 tonnes of dried fruits, textiles, carpets and mineral products were dispatched from the southwestern Afghan city of Zaranj to Iran's Chabahar port. The consignment will be shipped to Mumbai. On 14 July 2020, Iran proceeded with

8715-459: The outer world, giving India access to Afghanistan and beyond to Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , Russia and Europe via 7,200-km-long multi-modal North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). However, without further development of the Chabahar port, these road links would remain underutilized. Despite intentions, India's involvement in the infrastructure development within Iran has been minimal, possibly due to

8820-458: The permission to run the Chabahar port in the interim, while Iran has already completed the construction of jetty and IGPL will build two new terminals, one for the containers and another for the multi-purpose ships. In October 2017, IGPL had already started constructing the terminals after placing order for the construction equipment. On 29 October 2017, the first shipment through the port was sent from India en route to Afghanistan. To demonstrate

8925-479: The port has ten berths. In May 2016, India and Iran signed a bilateral agreement in which India would refurbish one of the berths at Shahid Beheshti port, and reconstruct a 600 meter long container handling facility at the port. The port is partly intended to provide an alternative for trade between India and Afghanistan as it is 800 kilometers closer to the border of Afghanistan than Pakistan's Karachi port . The port handled 2.1 million tons of cargo in 2015, which

9030-455: The port's 8.5 million-ton total capacity was utilized in 2019. Sanctions also played a role in reducing India's involvement and investment in the US$ 1.6 billion Chabahar–Zahedan railway . The port of Chabahar is located on the Makran coast of Sistan and Baluchistan Province , next to the Gulf of Oman and at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz . It is the only Iranian port with direct access to

9135-485: The project remains only on paper and has no financier as the economic feasibility is doubtful, though Armenia continues to try to find sponsors and private investors to make the project economically more viable. On 28 July 2012, a concession agreement was awarded to Dubai-based Rasia FZE (a Rasia Group investment company) for the feasibility, design, financing, construction and operation of a new railway link between Armenia and Iran having an operating period of 30 years, with

9240-745: The rail link by March 2022, utilising the National Development Fund of Iran to complete the project. Chabahar's connection to the country's railway plan is under study and consideration. A rail link between Chabahar and Zahedan, when completed, can connect Chabahar to the Kerman – Zahedan railway and further to the Trans-Iranian Railway . Mashhad in north east Iran to Herat in north west Afghanistan rail route has four sections, two each in Iran and Afghanistan. Within Iran, section-1 from Khaf to Sangan 16 km route

9345-767: The railway will be linked to national network making its way to the ports of the Persian Gulf. The project is estimated to cost $ 620m which is being jointly funded by the governments of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. The project also aims to create a multimodal transport system to provide seamless connectivity in the region for passenger travel as well. The North-South Transnational Corridor will run up to 137 km (85 mi) in Kazakhstan, 470 km (292 mi) in Turkmenistan and 70 km (43 mi) in Iran. Work in Turkmenistan commenced in Bereket in December 2007 and in Kazakhstan in July 2009. A 311 km (193 mi) section between Bereket and Uzen in Turkmenistan

9450-468: The region are expected to improve substantially, fostering greater regional trade and economic growth with extraordinary direct benefits for the Armenian economy including an alleviation of the economic pressures caused by the blockade against Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan due to Armenia's and Azerbaijan's war over Karabakh . In March 2013 Iran inaugurated the port of Astara located south-west of

9555-569: The respective countries as "containment strategies", which they attempt to break out of. Indian news commenter Shishir Gupta described India's Chabahar Port deal as "a counter to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ," as it has "broken through the strategic encirclement by China and Pakistan." Scholar Neil Padukone however disagrees that India has a goal of encircling Pakistan. India needs access to iron from Afghanistan's Hajigak mine and other natural resources from

9660-447: The road and rail links between Chabahar and the Afghan border. The bilateral agreement between India and Iran gives India the right to develop two berths of the Chabahar port as agreed in 2015 and allows them to be operated for 10 years by India Ports Global, a joint venture between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust , in partnership with Iran's Aria Banader. India Ports Global has guaranteed handling of 30,000 TEUs by

9765-710: The role of the facilities. From pier to pier these may differ, one dock handling intermodal transport needs (container-ships linked to rail by cranes); another bulk handling capabilities (such as conveyors, elevators, tanks, pumps) for loading and unloading bulk cargoes like grain, coal, or fuels. Others may be outfitted as passenger terminals or for mixed mode operations. Generally, Harbors , seaports and marinas all host watercraft, and consist of components such as piers , wharfs , docks and roadsteads . Port of Chabahar 25°18′1″N 60°36′46″E  /  25.30028°N 60.61278°E  / 25.30028; 60.61278 Chabahar Port ( Persian : بندر چابهار )

9870-410: The southern sections to the northern ones. Once completed, 22 new tunnels and 15 bridges will have been added to the route. On 7 January 2017, it was announced that the remaining construction of Qazvin to Rasht rail route is 90% complete and will be completed within 2017, whilst construction on the first section of the remaining Rasht-Astara section of road would also start in 2017. India and Iran have

9975-627: The third year of operations, and aims to eventually handle 250,000 TEUs. The berths will be developed at a cost of $ 85 million over the course of 18 months. Under the agreement, India Ports Global will refurbish a 640 meters (2,100 feet) long container handling facility, and reconstruct a 600 meters (1,970 feet) long container handling facility at the port. India Ports Global will modernize ancillary infrastructure by installing four rail-mounted gantry cranes , sixteen rubber-tire gantry cranes, two reach stackers, two empty handlers, and six mobile harbor cranes . Upon completion of upgrade works agreed to in

10080-627: The total project length. As the key missing link in the International North–South Transport Corridor, the Southern Armenia Railway would create the shortest transportation route from the ports of the Black Sea to the ports of the Persian Gulf. The Southern Armenia Railway would establish a major commodities transit corridor between Europe and the Persian Gulf region, based on traffic volume forecasts of 18.3 million tons per annum. At completion of railway construction and commencement of operations, transport costs and times for

10185-676: The trilateral transit trade and route was implemented when the first shipment of wheat was sent from India to Afghanistan via Chabahar. The India – Iran – Afghanistan three-way memorandum of understanding (MoU) plans have committed at least $ 21bn to Chabahar–Hajigak corridor, including $ 85m for Chabahar port development by India, $ 150m line of credit by India to Iran, $ 8bn India-Iran MoU for Indian industrial investment in Chabahar Special Economic Zone, $ 11-billion Hajigak iron and steel mining project awarded to seven Indian companies in central Afghanistan, and India's $ 2bn commitment to Afghanistan for developing supporting infrastructure including

10290-463: The twelve memoranda of understanding signed in May 2016. As per the deal, India will also be developing various industries, including aluminum and urea production plants, in the Chabahar economic zone attached to the port. Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Mehdi Honerdoost stated that Pakistan and China had both been invited to contribute to the project before India, but neither China nor Pakistan had expressed interest in joining. On 29 October 2017,

10395-428: The two ports are frequently made by analysts. Because 90 percent of Iran's population is concentrated in the western part of the country, the eastern part is relatively less developed. Iran is intending to change that with the development around Chabahar port, with a free trade zone and road and rail links between Chabahar and Central Asia. Its plan is to use Chabahar port as the gateway to Central Asia and to maintain

10500-561: The viability of the route, seven shipments of wheat as aid to Afghanistan were planned to be sent by India by the end of January 2018. On 3 December 2017, the first phase of the port construction was inaugurated by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. In January 2018, Iran and India signed an agreement worth $ 2 billion for cooperation in the rail sector. A part of the agreement pertains to a memorandum of understanding worth $ 600 million for Iran to purchase locomotives and freight cars from India. In November 2018, The United States has exempted

10605-545: The world including many canals are still very important and are integral parts of worldwide economies . Particularly, especially any material can be moved by water; however, water transport becomes impractical when material delivery is time-critical such as various types of perishable produce . Still, water transport is highly cost effective with regular schedulable cargoes, such as trans-oceanic shipping of consumer products – and especially for heavy loads or bulk cargos , such as coal , coke , ores , or grains . Arguably,

10710-458: Was also a radio department, headed by a chief radio officer and supported by a number of radio officers. Since the introduction of GMDSS (Satellite communications) and the subsequent exemptions from carrying radio officers if the vessel is so equipped, this department has fallen away, although many ships do still carry specialist radio officers, particularly passenger vessels. Many radio officers became 'electro-technical officers', and transferred into

10815-524: Was completed in September 2016 and section-2 from Sangan to Iran-Afghanistan border at Shamtiq (Shematigh, Shmtygh, شمتیغ) 62 km was completed in October 2017. Within Afghanistan, section-3 from the Iran-Afghanistan border at Shamtiq–Jono (Jonaw, Junaw) to Ghurian 61.2 km route was completed in October 2017 and finally section-4 from Jono to Herat is an Italy-supported 86 km route. Herat

10920-594: Was delayed by the 1979 Iranian Revolution . The first phase of the port was opened in 1983 during the Iran–Iraq War as Iran began shifting seaborne trade east towards the Pakistani border in order to decrease dependency on ports in the Persian Gulf which were vulnerable to attack by the Iraqi Air Force . India and Iran first agreed to plans to further develop Shahid Beheshti port in 2003, but did not do so on account of sanctions against Iran . As of 2016,

11025-474: Was planned to be upgraded to handle 8.5 million tons by 2016, and to 86 million tons in the future. In October 2017, India's first shipment of wheat to Afghanistan was sent through the Chabahar Port. In December 2018, India took over the port's operations. Following the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran, foreign companies became reluctant to participate in the port's expansion, and only 10% of

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