Almost every representative of the older and middle generations of Azerbaijani Shipping knows him as a long-voyage captain. Like his ancestors before him, he succeeded in writing his own distinguished page in the history of the country’s maritime industry. This is the story of Agha Rashid Agasiyev.
Agha Rashid Gurban oghlu Agasiyev was born on May 22, 1928, in Baku. In 1945, he entered the Baku Maritime School. After graduating in 1949 with a degree in Navigation, he began working on vessels of the Caspian Sea Shipping Company and steadily rose through the ranks to become a captain.
Later, Agha Rashid Agasiyev completed his studies at the Odessa Higher Marine Engineering School, specializing in Ship Machinery and Mechanisms, and continued his career as a long-voyage captain. Known for his professionalism, responsibility, sincerity, and calm character, he earned deep respect among his colleagues. He was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner of Labour and Badge of Honour, as well as numerous medals, and received the honorary title of “Honoured Worker of the Maritime Fleet.”
Captain Agasiyev was also actively involved in teaching. He lectured in his specialty at the Baku Maritime School and the Baku Fisheries Technical College.
Between 1990 and 1993, he worked as a mentor captain. His endless love for the sea extended beyond real ships — he was also passionately engaged in ship modeling, creating detailed miniature vessel replicas.
From the end of 1993, he worked at the “Caspianneftfleet” Administration, where he once again gained great respect as a disciplined, demanding, and highly competent specialist capable of successfully handling the most challenging assignments.
Captain Agasiyev commanded the first vessel of independent Azerbaijan to dock at the shores of the United States. As captain of the vessel “Yarenga,” he sailed from the Port of Norfolk in the United States, towing two ships to the Port of Bombay (now Mumbai), India. By successfully completing such a difficult and lengthy voyage, he upheld the honor of the Azerbaijani maritime school.
Captain A. Agasiyev remained professionally active almost until the end of his life. He passed away just four months before his 80th birthday. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the maritime industry, his exemplary service as a role model for younger generations, and his devoted work in the challenging field of shipping, the management of the Shipping Company named a port tugboat built in Türkiye after Captain Agha Rashid Agasiyev.
Since December of last year, personal belongings and commemorative materials related to Captain Agha Rashid Agasiyev have also been displayed at the “Surakhani” tanker museum as part of the “Legendary Captains” exhibition dedicated to prominent captains who left a lasting mark on the history of Azerbaijani shipping.
Sevda Abdullayeva
Leading Specialist,
Public Relations Department of ASCO
