TRANSPORT > AZERBAIJAN

Don’t keep
the train waiting
(to be loaded
on the ferry)
The Black and Caspian
seas are the backbone links www.enpi-info.eu
for transport connections between Asia and
Europe: ferry transport and land routes are the keys to understand
the Motorways of the Seas – Black Sea and Caspian Sea project. N View of Baku’s Bay.

A second phase of the EU funded initiative focuses on transit and

logistics: it’s time to optimize freight operations through ferry transport
on the Caspian and Back Seas, and to improve the land cargo routes
between them. Increasing the competitiveness of the TRACECA
transport corridor, means in the end to be able to attract a higher
volume of goods to be shipped from China to Europe and America.
Text and photos by Shahin Abbasov

This publication does
not represent the
official view of the EC
or the EU institutions.
The EC accepts no
responsibility or liability
whatsoever with regard
to its content.
Baku – “The Black and Caspian seas are the backbone links for transport connec-
tions between Asia and Europe: their development is of the outmost importance
for the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor, or TRACECA, as it is called.” Akif
Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s National Secretary of the EU’s TRACECA project, is a strong
believer of the ‘Motorways of the Sea’ concept. And he’s proud to talk about the
“Motorways phase 2” project, which focuses on transit and logistics.
A first EU-funded “Motorways of the Seas – Black Sea and Caspian Sea” project was
implemented to increase volumes and efficiency of cargo transpor-
tation. The initiative also serves as external dimension of the multi- ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 45
modal maritime corridors of the EU Trans European Transport net- This is a series of features on
projects funded by the EU’s Regional
works (TEN-T) to the neighbouring countries and beyond.
Programme, prepared by journalists
The project was launched in 2009 and will be soon completed. Now and photographers on the ground
- according to Mr. Mustafayev - the cooperation continues within a or the ENPI Info Centre.
new, joint and more comprehensive “Motorways of the Black and © 2011 ENPI Info Centre / EU
 Don’t keep the train waiting (to be loaded on the ferry) p. 2
ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 45

Caspian Seas: transit and logistics” project. As the previous one, it is tech-
nical and the participating countries themselves seek funds for concrete “The Black
infrastructural projects - by means of direct government allocations or and Caspian
outside investments. seas are the
backbone links
Improving the efficiency of ferry routes for transport
Ferry transport and land routes, these are the keys to understanding the connections
“Motorways of the Seas – Black Sea and Caspian Sea” project. This initiative between
aims at optimization of intermodal freight operations through ferry trans- Asia and
N Akif Mustafayev Europe: their
port on the Caspian and Back Seas, and land cargo routes between them. In partic-
ular, the Baku-Aktau and Baku-Turkmenbashi at Caspian Sea, and Poti-Ilyichevsk, development is
Poti-Varna and Poti-Constanza at the Black Sea ferry routes are concerned. of the outmost
Several seminars, bilateral and regional meetings with participation of all interest- importance for
ed sides – managers of the sea ports, shipping companies, railways, government the Europe-
customs and transport bodies – were held within the EU-funded project during Caucasus-Asia
the last two years. Ways were discussed to improve the TRACECA transport cor- transport
ridor function and to increase its competitiveness. “The efficiency of ferry routes corridor”
“The project at the Caspian and Black seas is not satisfactory at present,” continues Mustafayev,
aims to improve “so the project aims to improve cooperation between the main players for a better
cooperation quality of cargo transportation. For example, trucks or trains should not wait to
between the be loaded on the ferry for hours. Everything should be ready by the time
main players of their arrival to ports,” he says. And how could this be possible? “To be-
for a better gin with, the displacement time diagrams of transport should be drafted
quality of cargo jointly by the different countries and players, in order to avoid wasting
transportation” time during cargo operations.”
To achieve these goals, modern logistical centres are needed in the Cas-
pian and Black Sea ports. The creation of such centres would significantly
increase TRACECA’s competitiveness, Mustafayev says. Currently, about 10
million containers are being shipped annually from China to Western Eu-
rope and America. But – just as an example - in 2010 only about 16,000 containers N Vahid Alyev
were shipped to Afghanistan via TRACECA, and even smaller were the volumes to
be shipped from China to Europe and America. The attraction of at least 3-5% of
these cargos would bring serious economic benefits to the TRACECA corridor.

Azerbaijani infrastructure developing fast

Indeed, Azerbaijan has been actively developing its transport infrastructure, which
is part of the TRACECA corridor. The new 503km superhighway from Baku to the
Georgian border is 75% ready and will be completed soon. Also the Azerbaijani
government has enforced a new State Programme on railways system develop-
ment, according to which the railway between Baku and the Georgian border will
be fully modernized. The importance of this railroad system will increase after the
completion of the new modern International Sea Trade Port (ISTP) in the Alat sub-
urb, near Baku. Its construction was launched in November 2010 and it is expected NBaku’s international port.
to be completed in 2014.
In the meantime, measures to increase
cargo transportation are being applied
in the current Baku International Sea
Trade Port (BISTP). Vahid Aliyev, deputy
General Director of the BISTP, says that
12 berths have recently been fully reno-
vated and thus capacity of cargo trans-
portation will increase of about 20-30%,

ENPI Info Centre – Feature no. 45
N Azerbaijan’s transport
infrastructure is developing fast.
Motorways of the Seas –
Black Sea and Caspian Sea (TRACECA)
Promotes the Motorways of the Sea (MoS) concept and the creation of better maritime
transportconnections in the wider Black Sea and Caspian Sea region
www.traceca-org.org
Participating countries
Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan
Timeframe
2009-2011
Budget
€ 2.5 million
ENPI info centre
Don’t keep the train waiting (to be loaded on the ferry) p. 3
to reach 8 million tons annually. Mr Aliyev says the capacity of the new sea port in
Alat will be several times more and will exceed 60 million tons of cargo annually.
“Of course this will open new opportunities to increase transportation within the
TRACECA corridor,” he says.
The importance of logistics: larger volumes, less means “In general, the
The top manager also emphasizes the positive importance of the EU “Motorways
philosophy of
of the Seas – Black Sea and Caspian Sea” technical project. “Azerbaijan is very much
logistics is to
interested to develop these motorways, to attract additional cargos,” he contin-
provide larger
ues. And Akif Mustafayev from TRACECA adds that the solution of logistical issues
volumes of
and optimization of cargo transportation methods are of particular importance at
cargo with less
this stage. Currently, the most optimal form of cargo trans-
transport means.
portation in the world is in standard-size containers. “Even
This also helps
components of industrial products and equipment are be-
to save energy
ing produced to fit the standard-size containers for trans-
resources and
portation,” Mustafayev says. And this practice should be
to preserve the
introduced in the regional ports at Black and Caspian seas.
environment”
“In general, the philosophy of logistics is to provide larger
volumes of cargo with less transport means. This also helps
to save energy resources and to preserve the environment,”
Mustafayev says.
Objective
The project aims at improving transport connections between the EU and its Eastern neighbors,
as well as better intermodal freight operations, through the integration of short sea shipping
into the transport logistics, improving port operations and making hinterland connections more
efficient. The project seeks to develop the potential of maritime intermodal transport in favor of a
sustainable, safe and secure development of regional market trade and cohesion.
Find out more
ENPI Info Centre – Transport webpage www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=208&id_type=10
European Commission – transport relations Caucasus/Central Asia
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/international/regional_cooperation/caucasus_central-asia_en.htm
Project website www.traceca-org.org
The ENPI Info Centre is an EU-funded Regional
Information and Communication project
highlighting the partnership between the EU
and Neighbouring countries. The project is
managed by Action Global Communications.
www.enpi-info.eu