Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The volume of sea transportation has increased in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, playing connecting role in the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA), transported 4,200 wagons on its vessels in June, which is 52.3 percent more than the same period of last year.

The Company provides marine transportation of goods and passengers along with Trans-Caspian Sea as well as provides offshore support services for oil and gas operations.

The company transported 93.46 tons of dry cargo and 348.52 of liquid cargo on its tankers and ferries.

During the reporting period, 1,542 vehicles were transported by sea, which is 146 units more than in June, 2016. At the same time, 682 vehicles were transported on Ro-Ro ships, and 859 on ferries.

This June 1,520 passengers were transported by sea, which is by 117 persons more than in the same period of last year.

The development of the transport fleet in Azerbaijan is closely connected with the growth of the oil industry. A sharp increase in oil production in Baku in the 19th century gave a huge impetus to the evolution of the transport fleet in the Caspian: as a consequence, the need arose to create fundamentally new boats for the transport of oil and oil products.

The history of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company begins with the creation of the joint-stock company "Caucasus and Mercury" in 1858. The modern Company was established by merging country's two largest fleets - the Azerbaijan State Caspian Sea Shipping Company and the Caspian Sea ​​Oil Fleet of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan on October 22, 2013.

The merchant fleet of consists of 98 vessels: 34 tankers, 13 ferries, 14 universal dry-cargo, 2 Ro-Ro ships as well as 35 different auxuliary ships. And the offshore support fleet is comprised of 188 vessels of which 21 crane vessels, 22 supply and tug vessels, 29 passenger ships, 2 pipelay barges, 7 firefighting vessels, 5 geological survey vessels, 11 diving support vessels, and 84 other support vessels.

The state pays special attention to the development of sea transport. The presidential order dated November 7, 2016 approved the State Program for the Development of the Shipping Company in Azerbaijan for 2016-2020, which provides for the renewal of transport and oil fleets, modernization of shipyards, expansion of activities outside the Caspian Sea, and the development of other important areas.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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