A keel-laying ceremony has been held at the Baku Shipyard LLC, one of the companies under AZCON Holding, marking the start of construction of the first of two 780 TEU container vessels intended for operation in the Caspian Sea.
According to sea-news.az, citing AZERTAG the ceremony represents one of the key milestones in shipbuilding, officially signifying the beginning of structural assembly work.
The project is being implemented within the framework of a strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates. On September 16, 2025, Baku Shipyard LLC, part of AZCON Holding, signed a contract with the UAE-based AD Ports Group for the construction of two 780 TEU container vessels.
The ships are expected to support growing cargo flows across the Caspian basin and the Middle Corridor, contributing to the expansion of regional logistics capabilities. Once operational, they will strengthen transport routes linking Asia and Europe via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus.
According to design specifications, each vessel will be 149.5 meters in length, 21 meters in beam, with a draft of 4.5 meters, a deadweight of 9,404 tons, and a cargo capacity of 16,722 cubic meters.
The vessels are scheduled for delivery by 2028. The project is considered an important step toward meeting rising demand for container transportation, reducing transit times, and enhancing the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor.
It is also noted that Baku Shipyard has completed 14 shipbuilding projects and carried out repairs on more than 170 vessels to date. Currently, 11 ships are under construction, while 6 additional projects are in the design phase.
In addition, last month the shipyard signed a cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan’s KTZ Express Shipping, under which two modern dry cargo vessels are planned to be built in accordance with international standards.
