After a 21-day voyage from the Russian port of Astrakhan, the 5,000-ton Russian cargo ship - Pyotr Strelkov - berthed at Astara port, in northern Gilan Province, the head of Ports and Maritime Department of Astara, Rasoul Bahrami, told IRNA on Thursday. This is the first time a ship of this size has docked at Astara port, he said. Some 40 cargo vessels have berthed at the Iranian border port city since the beginning of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2014), registering a considerable growth in Astara’s trade. The multi-purpose waterfront is the first one run by the private sector. Some transportation experts believe that, given its proximity, Astara is the most economical route to connect the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.
