“Second Power Plant”… Iraq Receives the Longest Ship in the History of Khor Al-Zubair Port
“Second Power Plant”… Iraq Receives the Longest Ship in the History of Khor Al-Zubair Port
2025-08-23 04:02
Shafaq News – Basra
Khor Al-Zubair Port in Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, received today, Saturday, the longest ship in the port’s history, a Turkish power generation vessel named (ORKA SULTAN), demonstrating the port’s ability to receive giant ships with technical specifications.
The Director General of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartousi, told Shafak News Agency, “The company witnessed an exceptional event with the entry of the longest ship in the history of the port, the Turkish power generation vessel (ORKA SULTAN), which reflects the significant development in the navigational capabilities of Iraqi ports.”
Al-Fartousi added, “The ship is 289 meters long, 45 meters wide, and has a draft of 8 meters. It successfully docked at Berth No. 13 after a precise navigation plan and meticulous guidance procedures to ensure the safety of the operation.”
He explained that “the ship’s entry was carried out with high coordination between the Maritime Control and Guidance Department and the Maritime Affairs Department/Maritime Navigation Division, where the tugboats (Wasit), (Al-Wasiliyah), and (Al-Hawra) took on the task of securing and maneuvering, while the marine guide, Captain Raad Hamada Ali, led the guidance process with high professionalism, passing through the submerged tunnel operation area and arriving at the designated dock.”
Al-Fartousi pointed out that “Umm Qasr Port had received the first power-generating vessel a few days ago, commanded by Marine Guide Aqeel Abdul Bari, reflecting the competence and experience of Iraqi maritime personnel in handling giant and specialized vessels, and enhancing the standing of Iraqi ports on the regional and international levels.”
Last Thursday, August 21, the first Turkish ship dedicated to generating electricity with a capacity of up to 125 megawatts arrived at Berth 9 in the southern port of Umm Qasr. This vessel is part of a government contract aimed at boosting the national energy system by more than 250 megawatts per day.
Turkish company Karpowership, which operates floating power plants, previously announced it had signed a contract to supply Iraq with up to 590 megawatts of electricity to stabilize the country’s national grid.
Reuters reports that two floating power generation units are scheduled to dock at the Khor al-Zubair and Umm Qasr ports in Basra and are expected to begin operating within a month.
shafaq.com
