Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are planning a joint intermodal terminal at the Baku International Sea Trade Port. In addition, the two countries want to launch regular high-capacity ferry services between the ports of Alat and Kuryk, dubbed “Superferry” in Azerbaijan. Both projects target freight on the Middle Corridor.
The terminal at Baku port is meant to attract container and other freight flows and to integrate port and rail operations more closely, the Azerbaijani state transport holding AZCON Holding said. Priority goes to traffic on the Middle Corridor.
The Kazakh national rail operator Kazakh Railways (KTZ) and Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), a subsidiary of AZCON, will develop the terminal. They will establish a joint venture to handle the terminal’s operational and commercial activities. They signed a so-called term sheet with the main conditions on 2 November.
The investment model and financing terms have yet to be worked out. They will be determined at the next stage, based on the project’s technical and economic indicators, according to local news agency APA. The terminal’s capacity, cost and opening date have not been disclosed either.
Bigger ferries across the Caspian
Secondly, the “Superferry” or “Caspian Bridge” is supposed to establish a new, high-capacity ferry system across the Caspian Sea. It envisages regular freight services between the Azerbaijani port of Alat and the Kazakh port of Kuryk. More specialised terminals and an integrated transport and logistics system are also part of the plans.
The aim is to cut the time freight spends on Caspian Sea crossings and in port operations and to make transport more reliable. That, in turn, should make the Middle Corridor more competitive. The Kazakh sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna and AZCON agreed on the main principles for preparing and implementing the ferry project, the former announced. The two sides also discussed cooperation on dredging and maritime infrastructure projects.