My experiences with the ferry to Iran:

Oasis is the company that operates the major ferry from Sharjah (the most "Persian" of the Emirates), UAE, to various ports in Iran. If you contact the ferry companies in Iran you will find they all are agents for this same ferry.

It is possible to hitch a ride on a freight ship, but you need to take the captain of the ship to Immigration and Customs to complete the paperwork. For all but the smallest ships this is not worth their while. Some ships will point you to their agents which will usually charge a considerable sum to do the same thing. Most larger ships are simply not interested.

UAE or Omani Immigration authorities do not allow foreigners to travel to Iran on small dhows from their ports - these captains have special travel permits allowing them to come and go as they please and are not sufficiently regulated to satisfy Immigration officials that you will arrive safely. I've found dhow captains are more than willing to oblige, shame about Immigration.

One time I tried to travel to Iran the maritime border was closed (late March/early April). I heard all kinds of excuses for the cancellation of the ferry but the most likely reason was the Iranian navy's exercises at that time. Be warned, these exercises occur often - fisherman and small traders are routinely picked up and held indefinitely for encroaching - and the ferry is often cancelled.

In summary, although there are likely to be exceptions, generally speaking there is no maritime transport between Oman and Iran, and only one ferry between UAE and Iran. This one ferry is regularly cancelled at the whim of the Iranian Authorities and is often fully booked. Book early, try not to conicide with Iranian holiday periods, and hope the Iranian gunboats aren't doing their stuff.

Brett, Are you living in Abu Dhabi ? I am living in Dubai and intend to travel to UK via Iran and the Caucuses. in April 2007 My mobile no. is 050-6537084. Could you give me a call.
Regards
Peter

Have PMed you Peter

Hi Brett/Peter

I am in Muscat and plan to go through Iran to eastern Turkey by Landrover Discovery as from May 1st (my scheduled dep date from Sharjah to Bandar Abbas).

I was interested/worried to learn that ferries are regularly cancelled. Alarming.

I may be looking for a passenger. Anybody interested?

Ian

Ian, be sure to contact Oasis in Sharjah well in advance and they might have some idea of shipping stoppages. For instance, the ferries often stop during the Iranian festival period (in April), and I expect they know of upcoming naval exercises (after all, they are an Iranian company working out of an Iranian naval port).

Would love to join you but unlikely to be in town much over the next six months.

cheers
Brett

Hi guys,

I'm in Sana'a, Yemen and should start back up the peninsula in a few days' time, malaria cure permitting, insh'allah. Will be heading to Iran, Pak, India after that. Hope to meet you guys somewhere.

Ciao,
Peter.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Hi Ian
Don't be unduly alarmed. The trains don't run on time in England either but you get where you're going in the end.

If you need info., a place to hang out, or would like to visit the local desert when in Sharjah, drop me a line.
Stephan

Hi Brett. Can you tell me more about Oasis in Shardjah?Is it shipping company?At least tel.or email? I'm planning to tranfer my Kawasaki Anhelo to Azerbaijan,and will need ferry for it and me to reach Iran,and after I'm going to drive throught Iran to Astara border of Azerbaijan.And if it possible can you provide me with your tel.or mail to contact.thank you in advance.my tel in Dubai -050 5504346

See here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...uae-info-19372

It's a small ticket office for Oasis Shipping.
Waypoint: N25 19.022 E55 22.944

Stephan

I've just been to the Oasis office and can provide a little more info:

Ph 06-5596320
Fax 06-5595340
Email ofadxb (at) emirates.net.ae

Bring Carnet de Passages, bike rego and passport to the office.

Car ferries go every Sunday and Tuesday night from Port Khalid, Sharjah to Bandar Abbas. There are passenger ferries going to and from other ports, but NO other vehicle ferries. (stephano shipped his bike to Bandar Lengeh from Dubai 5 years ago, but apparently this is no longer possible.)

Bike is 740 Dh (supposedly includes port charges, Oasis kept my carnet and rego for processing)
Passenger 160 Dh (includes dinner and breakfast)

There will be port charges to be paid in Iran, but I won't have details until I have crossed next week or so.

Get some Iranian Rials for drinks on the ferry (they don't take Dirhams, I think) and port charges and possibly the first hotel night.

Vehicles need to be in port before 11 am, but I was told with a bike before 2 PM is sufficient.

I expect formalities in Iran to take pretty much all day.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Hi Ian,

You can contact Oasis Freight at the following number. This is the Dubai office. They operate the Valfajre8 ferries between UAE and Iran.

Oasis Freight AgencyP.O.BOX 5562, Dubai.
Tel: 04 3525000

Alternatively google Valfajre8 and you get more info on their schedules, ports of call, rates etc...

I agree with Stephan. Don't panic. Contact these guys and see what they say.

regards

Dirk

Hi

I want to cross from Bandar-e-Abbas to UAE with my Toyota Hilux. Does anyone know how to arrange a ferry ticket in Iran? Should I book well ahead? Does anyone know which agent I should contact, and how much it will cost?

Thanks for your help

Daniel

__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

Try here: Iran ferry ship, persian gulf shipping ticket, Travel Iran persian, Tour Operator Iran persian gulf, IranTravelingCenter

As mentioned above the company has an office in the UAE but it is actually an Iranian ship. Email enquiries are replied to (very quickly!) from Iran.

Cheers
Brett

I crosed in the Valfarj-8 Oran Ormuz 12 a few days ago. The shipping agent was Oasis.
I was told I had to pay 45 us for my ticket and 75 for the bike plus two other payments of handling and other port expenses, all in all about 150 160 us. Once in Dubay, at the Oasis office I was hit with charges amounting to an aditional 180 us dollar.
The crossing went well, no rough see, I slept all night. In the morning I found the bike on its side, resting on some oil drums. When I fetch some staff to show them what had happened (I didn't know then but he was the scond on board and responsible for the car deck) shouted at me that It was no fault of them but my fault. After complaining to the Captain I was acused of tempering with the securing ropes.
Inspectinf the bike found they have put the bike on its central stand and tied the touratech panniers rack at back and just one side, the right at a very low point (the engine protection plate bars). Neither would do anything to prevent the bike from falling as it did.
You can't even talk to the guys, nothing is their responsibility and every attempt at making either Valfarj-8 or Oasis personell deal with the problem and damage turned out a very bitter experience.
If you have to use them, make sure you secure the bike/vehicle yourself. They have no clue how to secure a motorcycle and nobody there will accept any responsibility for anything.

The Valfarj offices are west of town on the main road (follow the street closer to the sea towards heading west) about 3 or 4 Km out, opposite and just before the entrance to a Iranian navy complex guarded by white uniformed navy personnel. As a landmark, there is an aerial and a water tower on the seaside side of the dual carriageway.
I hope this helps
f

__________________
Smile

I used the Valfajre 8 in 1999 and made sure that I made 'friends' with the guys who were loading the vehicles - my bike was well secured for the crossing - they even found sheets of foam to protect it just in case.

Remember, don't wear shorts in Iran - the fun police really don't like it - I arrived at Bandar Abbas in July and was promptly told off while waiting in the queue to sort the paperwork out for the bike!