Russian cruise ships set to enter Iran

The Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development held several meetings with Russian officials to facilitate the entry of large Russian cruise ships into Anzali.
Ali Akbar Safaei stated, “The necessary coordination has been completed, and we are hopeful to welcome cruise ships as soon as possible. The presence of these cruise ships will significantly enhance maritime tourism for both Iranian citizens and foreign tourists.”
Iran announced the inauguration of a new maritime route connecting the ports of Anzali, Caspian, and Chamkhaleh in the Gilan province. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ports and Maritime Organization and the Gilan Port and Maritime Administration, is set to enhance regional connectivity and attract both domestic and international tourists, ISNA wrote.
Ali Akbar Safaei, who is also the CEO of the Ports and Maritime Organization, stated, “Following the directives of the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, we are committed to developing maritime tourism and passenger travel in the Gilan province, particularly in Anzali. Preparations are underway to launch these routes, and we are optimistic about their timely inauguration.”
He stated that the necessary coordination has been completed and expressed hope that cruise ships will be welcomed to the port as soon as possible. The minister added that the arrival of these ships could facilitate maritime tourism for both domestic and international visitors.
Safaei further expressed his optimism, saying, “With proper planning and feasibility studies, we aim to initiate maritime tourism and travel on the Caspian Sea. The focus is on establishing routes between Anzali, Caspian, and Chamkhaleh, which will be the first phase of our broader plans.”
Hossein Younesi, the Director-General of the Gilan Ports and Maritime Administration, emphasized the importance of maritime development in line with the government’s overall policies. Regarding the specifics of maritime tourism, Younesi explained, “Maritime tourism involves short cruises where vessels take passengers on a brief journey in the sea and return to the dock. These activities are already underway in Anzali. However, we also plan to introduce passenger routes, such as the one from Anzali to Caspian, which is about 10 miles apart. These routes will facilitate travel to free trade zones and other tourist destinations.”
Younesi also addressed the current lack of suitable vessels for passenger transport, stating, “The vessels currently used for maritime tourism, with a capacity of 40 to 50 passengers, can be utilized for these routes. Plus, we are negotiating with shipbuilders to purchase larger vessels with a capacity of 80 passengers, which will be integrated into our network.”
He also mentioned ongoing negotiations with Russia to establish a passenger route from Anzali to Astrakhan, Russia, and other ports in the region. “The Russians have expressed readiness to send cruise ships to Iran, and we are introducing a local shipping company to facilitate this process,” Younesi said.
When asked about the operational timeline for the Anzali-Astrakhan route, Younesi explained, “The launch of this route depends on several factors, including the availability of a suitable cruise ship with a capacity of 300 passengers. Once this is secured, we can proceed with detailed planning. Additionally, diplomatic negotiations with neighboring countries are necessary to ensure that passengers can easily obtain visas for their travel.”

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