Posted on December 1, 2025
Baghdad
The General Company for Iraqi Ports announced on Saturday that it has contracted with a Dutch company to survey the Al-Faw Canal and adopt Admiralty charts to reduce insurance costs. The company also confirmed that the canal will be equipped with a smart lighting and navigation system similar to airport runways.
The company’s Director General, Farhan Al-Fartousi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “after the completion of dredging operations, the marine survey phase will begin, conducted by a third party, the specialized Dutch company Fugro.” He explained that “the surveys will be carried out according to the requirements of the International Association of Land Transport (IALA), which sets global standards for shipping lanes.”
Al-Fartousi added that “the Dutch company’s final report will be submitted to the UK Hydrographic Office for the issuance of internationally recognized Admiralty charts.” He emphasized that “this step will make the canal a low-insurance waterway, reducing financial costs for shipping companies and attracting international shipping lines.” Regarding the technical equipment, Al-Fartousi indicated that “the company will begin equipping the navigation channel with modern buoys operated by an integrated electronic program,” explaining that “the lighting system will extend from inside the port to the sea using a system that simulates aircraft runways, in addition to installing marine monitoring platforms to analyze currents and weather patterns and send immediate warning notifications to ships and the port authority.”
