TEHRAN- The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) has advanced in the Alphaliner’s Top 100 ranking, climbing to 19th place in April from 22nd last year.

The Alphaliner Top 100 is the ranking of the largest container or liner operators in terms of global capacity, taking into account the fleets of virtually all of the container operators worldwide.

IRISL has been standing at the 22nd place in the world’s top shipping lines since May 2016.

Owning 46 ships, IRISL currently has the capacity of 96,383 twenty-foot-equivalent unit (TEU), together with 58,000 TEU in order-book.

Based on Alphaliner’s report, the IRISL’s capacity takes up 0.4% of world’s shipping lines.

In December 2016, IRISL signed an agreement with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries Company, Ltd. (HHI) based on which the S. Korean company will build mega-container vessels as well as tankers for carrying petroleum products for Iran.

The first of the mentioned vessels was due to be delivered to Iran in March 2018.

According to IRISL managing director, Mohammad Saeedi, maritime transportation accounts for more than 87 percent of Iran’s trade.

APM Maersk topped Alphaliner’s list, with a 18.9% market share.

EF/MA