Port of Basra

Location

The Port of Basra is situated in downtown Basra City, Iraq, on the banks of the Shatt Al-Arab River, approximately 135 kilometers upstream from the mouth of the river. The port is strategically located near several of Iraq's major oil and gas fields.

Coordinates: Latitude: 30°22' North, Longitude: 47°48' East.

History

Construction

The Port of Basra began operations in 1919, having been constructed under the aegis of the British Army, who occupied Mesopotamia during the First World War. Iraq's first modern port, it was intended by the British to serve as a major commercial and mercantile hub, servicing Basra itself but also acting as a valuable economic bridge between Europe and Asia.

Iran-Iraq War

The Port of Basra ceased to be fully operational in 1980 due to the Iran–Iraq War. The majority of the combat during that eight-year conflict occurred in southern Iraq along the Iranian border, where the port sustained damage from Iranian missile and artillery attacks. The port experienced a steady decline in operations in the ensuing years, ultimately closing in 2003. The Port of Basra has recently reopened and currently receives general, project, and containerized cargo.

Operations

The port has 15 berths of which 11 are currently operational with a combined wharf length of 2,000 meters. In 2013 NAWAH opened the only fully containerized terminal at Berth 14.

[[North America Western Asia Holdings|NAWAH]]

In October 2012, North America Western Asia Holdings (NAWAH) entered into a formal agreement with the Iraq Ministry of Transport and the General Company for Ports of Iraq to modernize the Port of Basra's Berth 14. This 10-year deal involved an investment of over $14 million, significantly enhancing the port's capabilities. Berth 14 was officially opened on October 27, 2013, by Iraq’s Minister of Transport, Hadi Al-Amiri.

In April 2014, NAWAH Port Management, as part of a new agreement, expanded the scope of the project by signing another formal agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Transportation and the General Company for Ports of Iraq. This agreement aimed to quadruple the size of the existing terminal at the Port of Basra. As part of the agreement, NAWAH Port Management undertook the rehabilitation of Berth 13, incorporating it into its terminal operations.

The investment and reconstruction efforts were spearheaded by NAWAH’s Iraqi-American joint venture subsidiary, NAWAH Port Management, which successfully developed the first modern terminal operation at the Port of Basra. This terminal now handles a wide range of cargo, including containerized cargo, break bulk cargo, project cargo, and reefer containers.

NAWAH Port Management's terminal at Berth 14 includes:

• A 20,000 square meter laydown yard
• A new administrative headquarters
• A Liebherr 180 Mobile Harbor Crane
• A Liebherr 645 Reachstacker

References

References

1. Magli, Dom. (2025-02-13). "ICTSI Basra acquires Konecranes mobile harbour crane".