Maritime tourism has long been forgotten in domestic tourism, but officials of Hormozgan Province are set to give it a chance.
Nowruz holidays are approaching, and a great surge of travelers is expected on the southern coasts.
Transportation between Bandar-Lenge and Kish island, Hormozgan Province, has been expanded with introduction of a new ‘ro-ro’ vessel, able to accommodate 600 passengers, and containing 120 cars, CHN quoted Esmaeel Makizadeh, the Bandar-Lenge director of the Ports and Maritime Organization as saying.
Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) vessels carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, trucks, and trailers that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle. In addition to the ro-ro vessel, a catamaran (multihulled vessel) is to join the sea route.
By the end of the winter, Bandar-Lenge’s harbor will be dredged and ready for docking of travel vessels.
From two other ports, Bandar-Charak and Bandar-Aftab, 13 landing crafts and eight travel vessels take travelers to Kish.
Ports and Maritime Organization is ready to manage the sea route between the islands of Kish and Hendorabi, on condition that Kish Free Zone Organization (KFZO) makes the route operational.
Ports and Maritime Organization is also ready to offer travel services for people traveling from Bandar-Lenge farther south to Abu-Musa near the entrance of the Strait of Hormoz, in case maritime companies are willing to cooperate.
“This year, we are ready to provide marine clubs, with seafaring training courses after signing a memorandum of understanding,” Makizadeh said.
Illegal routes in western parts of Hormozgan Province, near the villages of Berke-Sofleyn, Tahuneh, and Kalat are identified, and travelers are requested to take legal routes.
The vessels violating safety rules will be suspended. They should have safety certificates, registration numbers, and a sufficient number of life jackets. Weather alerts should be headed. No overload is permitted, and the crew should be qualified, Makizadeh added.
