Maritime Project – The existing maritime link connects two important transport nodes on Caspian Sea ports of Baku and Aktau, but also serves as a segment for:
- TRACECA corridor connecting Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia;
- CAREC 2b corridor providing the access for the landlocked Central Asian countries to Caspian Sea and Caucasians countries.
Technical description
The project is based on the existing rail-ferry services, which have been operating in Caspian region for over 30 years. Yet, however, the service:
suffers from irregular service schedule
is hampered by the high berth occupancy rate at Aktau port
prioritizes the transportation of railed cargo
has a very limited dedicated capacity (or almost none) for handling container and Ro-Ro (TIR trucks and trailers) transport,
is operated close to full capacity. To tackle these problems the project should restore and establish the regularity of shipping service.
The project will:
restore and establish the regularity of Baku-Aktau rail-ferry service based on fixed sailing schedule and corresponding fixed berthing windows which will enable to improve the frequency and increase the number of voyages and alleviate the congestion of the port rail tracks
simplify border-crossing procedures and implement the Free Practice procedure at both Baku and Aktau for cargo and vessels enabling to shorten the time needed for clearances and reduce berth occupancy (mainly at Aktau
improve coordination and advanced exchange of information between Customs and other border-crossing state agencies, ports, railways and shipping companies at national and bilateral levels in order to speed up port and vessel operations as per port of Aktau already on-going plan of action
ensure the availability of sufficient suitable and dedicated Ro-Ro tonnage and its operation on a regular/fixed schedule between Baku and Aktau;
up-grade Aktau port providing for a 2nd rail ramp next to the existing one
support maintenance of existing container handling equipment (supply / finance spare parts) at Baku sea port pending the transfer of its activities to Alyat
reshuffle the container handling procedure at Aktau port to speed up vessels' operations;
allocate a dedicated Ro-Ro berth and storage area at Aktau port,
allocate a dedicated container handling area at Aktau port.
based on the improvement of the rail-ferry operations and operation of new Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax service, foster the implementation of a liner container service deploying adequate specialized tonnage under a regular schedule between Baku and Aktau.
Investment amount
Most of the short-term steps contemplated in the project do not require any specific investment as, except for completion of works necessary for the installation of a second rail ramp near the existing one at Aktau (as of 2015 included into the state infrastructure upgrade plan), they are not related to infrastructure and/or equipment and consist in soft measures. Dredging and other civil engineering works are going on rapidly at Alyat, the location retained for the new port of Baku. Investment in ferry vessels is an on-going regular process with Caspian Shipping Company while Turkmenistan has officially declared its intention to acquire Ro-Pax tonnage.
Implementation schedule
In the short run (years 1 to 2)
restore and establish the regularity of Baku-Aktau rail-ferry service\
simplify border-crossing procedures and implement the Free Practice procedure at both Baku and Aktau
improve coordination and advanced exchange of information between Customs and other border-crossing state agencies, ports, railways and shipping companies at national and bilateral levels
ensure the availability of sufficient suitable and dedicated Ro-Ro tonnage and its operation on a regular/fixed schedule between Baku and Aktau
up-grade Aktau port providing for a 2nd rail ramp next to the existing one
support maintenance of existing container handling equipment (supply / finance spare parts) at Baku sea port pending the transfer of its activities to Alyat
reshuffle the container handling procedure at Aktau port to speed up vessels' operations.
In the medium run (years 3 to 5)
allocate a dedicated Ro-Ro berth and storage area at Aktau port
allocate a dedicated container handling area at Aktau port
based on the improvement of the rail-ferry operations and operation of new Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax service, foster the implementation of a liner container service deploying adequate specialized tonnage under a regular schedule between Baku and Aktau.
Status
Under development
Expected impacts on transport, environment, social, other
The project will be a link for the planned container train operations between South-East Asia and Europe, including Silk Wind. Environmental impacts: Reduction of carbon emissions. Socio-economic impacts: The improved regularity, reliability of existing service; better coordination of transport operations between port, railways and trade facilitation authorities, will result in a better deployment of the existing and future rail-ferry fleet while the implementation of pure Ro-Ro and/or Ro-Pax services will immediately cause a diversion of existing large cargo-flows from other - purely road - corridors.
Blog » 2013 – Azerbaijan, Maritime, Improving existing trans-Caspian shipping links Baku Aktau
2013 – Azerbaijan, Maritime, Improving existing trans-Caspian shipping links Baku Aktau
2013 – Azerbaijan, Maritime, Improving existing trans-Caspian shipping links Baku Aktau
Maritime Project – The existing maritime link connects two important transport nodes on Caspian Sea ports of Baku and Aktau, but also serves as a segment for:
The project is based on the existing rail-ferry services, which have been operating in Caspian region for over 30 years. Yet, however, the service:
The project will:
In the short run (years 1 to 2)
In the medium run (years 3 to 5)
Under development
The project will be a link for the planned container train operations between South-East Asia and Europe, including Silk Wind. Environmental impacts: Reduction of carbon emissions. Socio-economic impacts: The improved regularity, reliability of existing service; better coordination of transport operations between port, railways and trade facilitation authorities, will result in a better deployment of the existing and future rail-ferry fleet while the implementation of pure Ro-Ro and/or Ro-Pax services will immediately cause a diversion of existing large cargo-flows from other - purely road - corridors.
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