In the early morning of Baku Port, sunlight shines on the shimmering surface of the Caspian Sea. The huge gantry crane on the shore stands quietly, as if waiting for an action to change the regional shipping pattern. On the 3rd, with the first keel steel plate firmly in place, Kazakhstan's first container ship with a carrying capacity of 780 TEUs officially entered the construction phase. At this moment, not only does it mean that the symphony of steel and welding is about to play, but it also heralds Kazakhstan's leap in the maritime map.

The project is implemented within the framework of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Abu Dhabi Ports Group. Janibek Tejanov, Deputy Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, personally witnessed this important moment at the scene. According to the plan, by the end of 2027, the Caspian Sea will welcome two new container ships, which will significantly enhance Kazakhstan's container shipping capacity, making cargo transportation more efficient and reliable.

In addition to container ships, Kazakhstan State Railways has signed a contract with Baku Shipyard to build two modern dry cargo ships, expected to be delivered in 2028. In April of this year, Harbin State Railway signed a construction agreement for six ships, all of which will be built and assembled by Baku Shipyard. Developing a local merchant fleet has become a core priority task in Kazakhstan's transportation policy.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

In recent years, the freight volume of the Trans Caspian International Transport Corridor has increased by more than 3.5 times, and the transportation time between China and Europe has significantly shortened. After the new ship is put into use, it will further unleash the logistics potential of the Caspian Sea region, promote the continuous increase of freight volume, and consolidate Kazakhstan's position as a key transit hub connecting Asia and Europe.Editor/Yang Meiling