Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have agreed on cooperation to develop a new Trans-Caspian ferry system called Caspian Bridge, also known as Super Ferry. AZCON Holding and sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna signed the agreement, AZCON announced on November 2.
The project envisages regular freight services between Alat and Kuryk using high-capacity ferries. Specialised terminals are intended to reduce crossing and cargo-handling times. These are project objectives, not performance improvements already achieved.
A separate document sets out the main terms of cooperation on an intermodal cargo terminal at the Baku International Sea Trade Port. The terminal is intended to connect port and railway operations, with a joint venture proposed to run it.
The next stage involves refining the investment model and financing terms using the project's technical and economic parameters. The announcements do not specify project costs or a launch date for the new ferry system.
For shippers, capacity alone will not determine the service's usefulness: coordination between vessels, terminals and railway schedules will also matter. Signing the documents does not yet amount to launching a new operating route.
