Levelling has been completed for the second segment of the immersed tunnel for Iraq’s Al Faw Grand Port project.
Situated on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, Al Faw Grand Port is a logistical hub that aims to connect Asia and Europe through Iraq, making it a crucial link in global trade. It will have the capacity to handle 25 million containers and 55 million tons of bulk cargo a year.
The 2.4km-long Basra Tunnel is the first immersed tunnel in the Middle East. It will run under the Shatt al-Arab waterway, connecting Al Faw Grand Port with an international highway.
Levelling for the second segment was conducted beneath the Khor Al-Zubair navigational channel at a depth of 23m, with a water level of 12m above the section.
The director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, Dr Eng. Farhan Al-Fartousi, said the 126m-long, 45,000-ton segment was manufactured in the designated dry dock.
“It was equipped with advanced systems for balance and alignment, enabling its precise immersion and connection to the first section, forming an integral part of the structural framework of the tunnel,” he said.
He added that the total length of the tunnel segments currently immersed in water, including those within the Khor Al-Zubair channel and the approach near Um Qasr, had reached 441m out of 1.24km.
“The total length of the tunnel exceeds 2.4km, executed using the immersed tunnel technique, with unprecedented international standards in Iraq and the region,” said Dr Al-Fartousi.
He also praised the joint efforts of the Iraqi engineering teams and the foreign companies involved.
“What we are witnessing today is the result of fruitful collaboration between Iraqi expertise and international experience. This achievement reflects Iraq’s capability to confidently undertake mega projects that meet global standards,” he said.
