Ismat Amer, head of the state-run sea transport company, said Iraq had started rebuilding its maritime fleet when it bought its first new ship in 2009.
Iraq signed a deal in September with Global Refinery of Switzerland to jointly operate 66 ships. The deal gave Iraq its first maritime fleet since the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.
"The Transport Ministry intends to invite specialized firms at the beginning of March to build a fleet of 10 ships of different purposes," said Amer. He said the deal was worth roughly $110 million.
Iraq's infrastructure, including its ports, are dilapidated after decades of war, sanctions and economic decline. But Iraq is hoping to rebuild after it signed major oil deals which could quadruple oil output capacity and as violence begins to ease.
Amer said the tender would include four bulk cargo ships, two container ships and one passenger vessel. Construction was expected to take two years.
Amer said the project is part of the government investment plan and money had been allocated. (Reuters)
