BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
Presently, Kazakhstan is considering the possibility of opening a regular ferry service on the Turkmenbashi port - Kuryk port - Makhachkala port route and back, the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development told Trend on Jan. 25.
“The issue of using the ferry on this route remains open today,” the ministry said. “In this regard, the negotiations are underway to use the Turkmen "Berkarar / Bakhtiyar" ferries of the Ro-Pax type on the line.”
"The Ro-Pax ferry vessel combines the capabilities of Ro-Ro ferries and passenger transportation,” the ministry said. “Moreover, there is an interest in using train ferries and Ro-Ro ferries of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Closed Joint-Stock Company on the line."
The representative of the ministry stressed that the opening of this regular line will positively affect the development of transportation by ferry in the Caspian Sea and will increase the cargo turnover in the port of Kuryk by about 300,000 tons per year.
Currently, three seaports in Kazakhstan render the services to vessels of various tonnage, namely, Aktau, Bautino and Kuryk.
Aktau seaport is located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea at the intersection of several international transport corridors.
"Bautino" cargo area in the settlement of the same name is a subdivision of JSC "NC" Aktau International Sea Trade Port ".
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