The MV Vira Bhum, during its maiden call to Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT) on 29 October under the RWG service, became the first Regional Container Line (RCL) vessel to call the Port of Umm Qasr and the first Thai-flagged vessel to reach Iraq.
BGT, Iraq's primary multi-purpose cargo handling facility at the Port of Umm Qasr, received the inaugural call of the RCL West India-Gulf (RWG) service in October.
Operated jointly by Regional Container Line (RCL) and Bengal Tiger Line (BTL), the RWG service aims to improve trade connectivity by offering faster and more efficient shipping routes to India and the Middle East. The service operates on a 21-day turnaround, connecting key ports including Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, and Umm Qasr.
“We are pleased to welcome RCL and BTL as partners in enhancing trade and connectivity in the region,” said Romeo Salvador, BGT’s CEO. “The RWG service is a significant step toward supporting Iraq’s role in global trade.”
The maiden call underscores the importance of BGT as Iraq’s most advanced terminal, with modern infrastructure and efficient operations that position it as a key gateway to regional markets.
RCL and BTL have each deployed a vessel for the service—the Vira Bhum and the Intersea Traveler. A total of three vessels, each with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 2,700 TEUs, will be used to ensure service reliability.
A subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), BGT provides shipping lines and cargo owners with efficient, scalable, and future-ready port solutions that meet the demands of global trade.