Bandar Imam Khomeini

Infobox Settlement
official_name = PAGENAME
native_name =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



map_caption =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_mapsize = 300
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Iran
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name =‎
subdivision_name1 = Khuzestan Province
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
established_title =
established_date =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of=
population_footnotes =
population_total =
population_urban =
population_metro =
population_density_sq_mi =
population_density_km2 =
timezone =
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
latd=30|latm=25|lats=|latNS=N
longd=49|longm=4|longs=|longEW=E
elevation_footnotes=
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
website =
footnotes =

Bandar Imam Khomeini (Persian بندرامام خمینی) is a port city on the Persian Gulf in Khūzestān Province, Iran. Before the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it was known as "Bandar Shahpur". It is named after Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini, who was regarded by his followers as an imam.

The city is home to Petrochimi Bandar Imam basketball club, which plays in the Iranian Super League.

Port history

The port is located at the terminus of the Trans-Iranian Railway linking the Persian Gulf with Tehran and on to the Caspian Sea. During World War II it consisted only of a jetty, two shipping berths, a railhead and warehouses and a civilian settlement some miles distant.cite web| title =Bandar Shahpur (Now Bandar Khomeini) - World War II - Persian Gulf Command | publisher =Pars Times | month = | year =2008 | url =http://www.parstimes.com/travel/iran/bandar_shahpur.html | accessdate =2008-09-05 ] The port was initially in German and Italian hands, but was stormed on August 25, 1941 by a combined Russian, British and Indian force supported by the Royal Navy. [cite book |title =The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean, Volume II | first =David | last =Brown | coauthors= | month = | year =2001 | publisher =Routledge | pages =157 | url =http://books.google.com.au/books?id=4wNYYkex7A0C&pg=RA1-PA157&lpg=RA1-PA157&dq=%22bandar+Shahpur%22&source=web&ots=906Ogy_xGw&sig=aPKPyETqtsRuSl9I621dEQ_Is1U&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PRA1-PA157,M1 | isbn =9780714652054] Thereafter it was administered by the US Army 482nd Port Battalion and served as a critical supply point for Allied military aid for Russia. The port facilities were also used for merchant and military vessel layup and repair. Three additional berths were built during the war..

Port operations

The [http://www.bandarimam.com Bandar Imam] port is a transshipment point for containers, bulk and general cargo, with exclusive access to the facilities held by Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). In 2005 the Iranian Government proposed direct container shipments between the port and western Europe, [cite news|title = Iran port may act as Europe link with Iraq | work =Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News | publisher = Informa Australia| date =2005-01-06 | url =http://www.lloydslistdcn.com.au/informaoz/LLDCN/home.jsp?source=top | accessdate =2008-02-13 ] but negotiations with shipping lines for dedicated port facilities and access have not concluded.

The Port has seven terminals with 40 berths of about 6,500 metres frontage.cite web| title =Port of Bandar Imam Khomeini | publisher =Abran Junub Shipping and Commercial Services | year =2007 | url =http://www.abranco.com/bandar_imam_khomeini.htm | accessdate =2008-02-13 ]

The terminals are supported by warehouses with a capacity of 171,000 m² and open storage areas covering 10.9km².

References

External links

* [http://www.pso.ir/ Iran Ports and Shipping Organization]
* [http://www.ostan-kz.ir/en/albumdetail_aen_i_10.html Bandar Imam ("Imam Khomeini Port") Photo Gallery from the Khuzestan Governorship]