Bushehr-Kish recreational ferry service to be launched in late January
A recreational ferry service between Iran’s southern city of Bushehr and Kish Island in the Persian Gulf is set to be launched in late January during a ceremony attended by influencers, journalists and travel agents, according to deputy minister for Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, Anoushirvan Mohseni Bandpey.
the Grand Ferry, Iran’s largest cargo-passenger vessel that sails across the Persian Gulf, will carry passengers and tourists along this route, IRNA reported.
“This will be a pioneer in the development of marine tourist projects,” Bandpey said during a visit to the vessel on Tuesday.
He expressed readiness to start using this grand vessel for long coast-to-coast routes which has received support from the Tourism Ministry, especially regarding the supply of fuel.
The government of President Masoud Pezeshkian has given special priority to the development of marine tourism, with the Tourism Ministry and its subsidiaries seriously pursuing this comprehensive plan.
Grand Ferry was initially set to serve in a Bushehr-Doha route and connect Iran to the Qatar through the Persian Gulf. The project, however was never made operational due to obstacles such as Doha port tariff regulations, investor’s issues and fuel prices.
It was later decided that the vessel be used as a recreational ferry for tourism projects.
The French-made vessel is 145 meters long, 26 meters wide and 45 meters long. It has 500 beds in 250 rooms and 1,500 seats that can be used for performances.
Grand Ferry successfully docked at Bushehr’s Shahid Haghgou port last year.
Mohammad Shakibi Nasab, director of ports and maritime department of Bushehr, described it at the time as a new opportunity to promote marine tourism, transport and trade, making Bushehr a major sea travel hub.