TEHRAN -- Managing Director of Ports and Shipping Organization Ahmad Donya-Mali declared here on Saturday that despite regional crisis, oil and non-oil products are being handled at Iranian ports quite normally.

He told reporters that precautionary measures have been taken at Iranian ports to minimize the damage likely to be inflicted as a consequence of the current war crisis.

According to the official, no disruption has so far occurred in the process of handling goods via Iranian southern ports, neither has any limitation been observed in the traffic of vessels and fishing in Arvand-Roud river.

The official reiterated that the requirement for war insurance was the only impact inflicted on the Iranian ports as a consequence of the crisis in the region. However, Shahid Rajaie Port was the the only port bearing no effect.

Donya-Mali, deputy minister of roads and transportation, pointed out that Iran has declared its readiness to the United Nations to handle humanitarian goods dispatched to Iraq.

"That's why a UN representative office has been established in Imam Khomeini Port to the effect," he added.

Referring to 86 million tons of goods handled in the last Iranian year (ended March 20), he said that a boost of one million tons is observed compared to the previous year.

"A total of 37 million tons of goods were imported via Iranian ports which showed a drop of two million tons compared to 1380, while a boost of one million tons was observed in the oil consignments transited through Iran," he added.

He declared that in 1381, 1.57 million tons of products were transited via the country and that a 19 percent boost was observed.

Saying that Rls.1,200 billion was invested in the infrastructure sector and the installation of the equipment in the past year, he said that the figure is to increase to Rls.2,800 billion in the current year, 50 percent of which will be provided by the private sector.

Declaring the imminent extension of port terminals to the private sectors, he said that last year three terminals were transferred to the private owners on a 10-year term and that nine more are to be passed on in the current year.

He said that the investment of $60 million in marine installations and buying five helicopters is currently underway and that $11 million is to be invested in a traffic control and safety project by a French enterprise expected to become operational in three years.

"New docks are also to be constructed in Imam Khomeini, Rajaei, Chahbahar, Amirabad and Noshahr ports," he added.

He noted that seven docks have so far been established at Amirabad Port in Mazandaran Province, said IRNA.

The official declared last year's revenue of the Ports and Shipping Organization at Rls.1,500 billion, which was spent on the development of the ports.

Referring to the current handling capacity of the Iranian ports at 55 million tons, excluding the oil installations, he noted that the figure is predicted to increase to 76 million tons by the end of the Fourth Development Plan.