TEHRAN -- In a move to modernize the sea transport capacity, some 30 modern ships are to join national shipping fleet, announced the Head of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), Ali-Ashraf Afkhami here on Sunday.

Afkhami told reporters that the high average age of the shipping fleet this year has prompted the scrapping of 10 such ships from the national shipping fleet.

He said IRISL this year earned $480 million. Of this amount, $140 million were brought in through shipping of foreign-made goods through overseas ports.

He added that as of the next Iranian year, to start on March 21, the IRISL will be transporting strategic, petrochemical, and chemical consignments.

The IRISL has so far transported 20 million tons of goods since last March.