Felixstowe-based Seafast Logistics has announced the formation of a partnership with long established Iranian Logistics provider Seven Seas Tehran, following the lifting of trade sanctions on Iran.

Together Seafast Logistics and Seven Seas have established a joint venture, believed to be the only one of its kind. It will be known as “Iran Shipping & Logistics Ltd” and was registered with UK Authorities in August 2015, immediately upon announcement of the nuclear-related agreement between Iran and the European and United States governments.

The respective owners of Seafast and Seven Seas have a long established working relationship spanning more than 20 years, and dating back to the days of Container Shipping Companies, Contship Container Lines, and CP Ships, of which Seafast managing director David Halliday was chief executive, and during which time Seven Seas acted as representatives of those shipping lines in Tehran.

Mr Halliday said: “We have been patiently waiting for this opportunity, and through the collective knowledge and experience of Seafast, and Seven Seas, our JV partnership, Iran Shipping and Logistics Limited, is now able to offer immediate solutions for container shipping, as well as break bulk, project cargoes, refrigerated goods, and airfreight into and from all Iranian ports.”

“ISLL will cover shipments under its own contracts of carriage duly insured, and will use its extensive global network to design and implement bespoke transportation solutions, according to individual customer requirements.”