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Decrease in Caspian Sea water level affected transportation

04 March 2025 15:34 (UTC +04:00)

In recent years, the depth of water in the Caspian Sea ports and canals has decreased, which has hindered the ferries from operating at full capacity, Tariyel Mirzayev, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), said during the "Middle Corridor via the Caspian Sea" forum held in Baku, APA-Economics reports.

According to him, as a result of the decrease in the water depth at Kazakhstan's Kurik port, the transport capacity of the "Ro-Pax" type ferries between the Baku Port (Alat) and this port has decreased. Specifically, the transportation of railway tanks has decreased by 22%, and the transportation of wagons has decreased by 10%.

Tariyel Mirzayev noted that due to the decrease in water depth at the Turkmenbashi port, the transport capacity of the "Ro-Pax" type ferries between Baku Port and this port has also decreased (a 37% decrease in the transportation of railway tanks and a 19% decrease in wagon transportation).

Tariyel Mirzayev also emphasized that since 2014, 32 vessels have been commissioned under ASCO, and currently, 11 more vessels are planned to be put into service.