Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

A ferry terminal will be commissioned within the framework of the construction project of a new international sea trading port in Azerbaijan by late 2014, Head of the State Maritime Administration Gudrat Gurbanov said at an event dedicated to the Sailor Day on June 25.

"Construction of the new shipyard and the new port in Azerbaijan indicates the great importance given to the industrial development of the country in accordance with modern standards and requirements," the head of the administration said.

Gurbanov also said vessel construction on a new shipyard in Azerbaijan will contribute to the development of freight and transit potential of the country.

"The new plant provides the ground for the construction of various types of vessels that will meet the needs of all relevant agencies of the country," he added.

Baku International Sea Trade Port's Director General, Elchin Mirzayev, in turn, said Azerbaijan has great transit potential and the country is implementing major transport projects to take advantage of it.

"The completion of the construction of the new port's ferry terminal will allow us to transfer our ferry terminal to a region outside of the city center," Mirzayev said, referring to the construction of new international sea trade port in the Alat settlement.

Addressing the event, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company CJSC Head, Rauf Valiyev said the company is negotiating with major international companies to prepare a development strategy for the company for the next 15-20 years.

"The main task of the company is to maintain its position in the freight market under the competitive environment in the Caspian Sea," he said.

Valiyev also noted that currently works are being carried out on the revaluation of assets of the company and determination of their market value as part of the restructuring project of the CJSC and its future development.

The new port is being built in Alat settlement located 65 kilometers south of Baku. Construction of the new port, which began in November 2010, is carried out in three stages. The first phase of the project involves the construction of two ferry and three cargo berths for receiving containers of the "Roll-on/roll-off" type and simple (universal) dry cargo ships. The second phase of the project involves the construction of three cargo berths, while the third - the construction of two additional cargo berths.

The port can receive up to 11.6 million tons of cargo per year.