Iraqi ports complete submerging the first part of the “submerged tunnel”
Iraqi ports complete submerging the first part of the “submerged tunnel”
2025-03-10 06:43
Shafaq News/ The Director of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartarsi, announced on Monday the completion of the process of submerging the first part of the submerged tunnel under the Khor Al-Zubair navigational canal, stressing that it is the first of ten parts to be submerged in this huge project.
Al-Fartousi told Shafak News Agency, “Today is considered a major achievement in the field of marine infrastructure, as the first piece of the submerged tunnel has been installed under the Khal Al-Zubair navigation channel, which is a first step towards linking the Grand Faw Port to the underwater transportation network.”
He continued: “The piece that was installed is distinguished by its length of (126) meters, and its weight of (45) thousand tons, and it represents an important aspect in the construction of this vital tunnel that will connect the Grand Faw Port with Umm Qasr, as it will contribute greatly to facilitating maritime navigation in Iraq,” indicating that “this tunnel is the first of its kind in the Middle East.”
Al-Fartousi added, “This work was implemented by specialized international companies, as the Dutch company, the Italian consultant, and the Korean company (Daewoo) that implemented the Grand Faw Port project participated in this complex process, under the supervision of the Grand Faw Port Authority, affiliated with the General Company for Iraqi Ports.”
He explained that “the piece was lifted from the manufacturing basin in a precise process, then directed to the waiting area where it was equipped with floats and GPS devices and then tightly connected. After that, it was smoothly pulled to the tunnel path and lowered accurately to complete the process of connecting it to the fixed piece,” noting that “the process was completed successfully by (100%) and according to plan.”
He concluded by saying, “Specialized cadres are ready to work on transferring the second piece from the manufacturing basin to the tunnel path, and this process will be repeated ten times until the tunnel is fully completed,” noting that “work is continuing at the entrances and exits of the immersed tunnel, which reflects the rapid progress and readiness to complete this project.”
A source in the Iraqi ports confirmed to Shafaq News Agency, on March 5, that the Dutch company had succeeded in lowering the first pieces of the submerged tunnel into the Khor Al-Zubair navigation channel.
The “submerged tunnel” is one of the vital projects in the Grand Faw Port, which is located in the south of Basra Governorate, and connects Faw and the Umm Qasr area in southern Iraq also by sea.
It is noteworthy that the General Company for Iraqi Ports announced on February 24, 2025, that the completion rate of the road linking the Grand Faw Port and the Umm Qasr Port had reached 97%, while indicating that it would improve transportation between the two sites.
shafaq.com
