Umm Qasr Port
Umm Qasr Port | |
---|---|
Iraqi Government |
Umm Qasr Port is
Iraq's second biggest port in scale of size and goods shipped, ranking behind the port of
History
Umm Qasr was originally a small fishing town,
In 1958 after the
Iran–Iraq War
During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88), the ports importance increased as fighting restricted access to other ports further east along the Shatt al-Arab. The port of Basra, located on the Shatt al-Arab waterway, became unusable as it was just miles from the Iranian border.[5]
First Gulf War
After the 1991
Once the port was returned to the
Second Gulf War
The Battle of Umm Qasr was the first military confrontation in the Iraq War, with its objective the capture of the port.
On March 21, 2003, the battle was started with an amphibious assault by British
The port was declared safe and open on March 25, 2003, after Royal Marines took over control of the port and conducted raids into the old part of town. Coalition minesweepers, including
Reconstruction
On 23 May 2003, control of the facility was transferred from the Spanish Army operating under the Royal Marines,[11] to Stevedoring Service of America (SSA). The company is responsible for both operations as well as restoration and renovation of the facility, which will be turned over to Iraqi civilian control when it is fully operational.[12]
In January 2004 it was announced that work would start on a $10.3 million project to renovate the Umm Qasr Naval Base, funded through the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Coalition Provisional Authority. To enable the Iraqi security forces the facilities they need for the defence of their country, the project includes building renovation; construction of electrical, water and sanitary sewage systems; security improvements; dock repair and dredging. The prime contractor was Weston Solutions, Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania, who completed the work in mid-May 2004.[12]
References
- ^ "UNLOCODE (IQ) - IRAQ". service.unece.org. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ Ports of the World 1969, p. 697. Shipping World Ltd
- ^ China’s Belt & Road Initiative
- ^ Baghdad’s new route to Europe
- ^ a b c d "Umm Qasr". thepersiangulf.org. Archived from the original on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ "Iraq Hopes For Revival As An International Highway", The Times, 15 May 1961
- ^ "General Kassim Founds £15M. Port", The Times, 27 March 1961
- ^ Ports of the World 1969, p. 697. Shipping World Ltd
- ^ "Fierce battle around port," The Guardian, 24 March 2003
- ^ "Iraq aid confined to south", The Guardian, 2 April 2003
- ^ "Iraqi welcome for US turns to fury". theage.com.au. 2003-05-05. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ a b "Umm Qasr". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
External links
- At Iraqi Port, Chaos and Corruption Reign - slideshow by The New York Times