KTZ Express Shipping, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, has signed contracts for the construction of six universal “river-sea” class vessels.
Under the project, four dry cargo ships will be built by China’s Jiangsu Haizhongzhou Shipping Industry, while the remaining two vessels will be constructed by the Baku Shipyard.
The contracts were reportedly signed at the end of April. The new vessels are intended for the transportation of containers and general cargo across the Caspian and Black Sea basins.
According to the project specifications, each vessel will have a deadweight capacity of 9,900 tons and a container capacity of 537 TEU. The ships are being designed for both sea and inland waterway navigation. Their draft will be 5.56 meters at sea and 3.6 meters on inland waterways.
The two vessels to be built at the Baku Shipyard are expected to be delivered within 28 months after the signing of the contract.
The new container carriers are expected to operate along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and contribute to the expansion of cargo transportation between the ports of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
