Iraq, marine firm to operate 66 cargo ships

Iraq, marine firm to operate 66 cargo ships    The Iraq government has signed a deal with an international company to jointly operate 66 cargo ships, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
   The move is being made to help the war-ravaged country rebuild its maritime capability, including the training of merchant crews. According to the report, Iraq has only two cargo ships and four oil tankers.
   'The country’s fleet of oil tankers and cargo vessels was devastated by shelling during the 1980-88 war with Iran and attacks during the 1991 U.S.-led Gulf War,' the AP story said.
   The five-year contract will link Iraq’s state-run Maritime Transportation Co. with Global Refinery, a unit of a company based in the British Virgin Islands.