Sometimes, a persons fate is determined from childhood. For some, the path begins in the mountains, for others, on the bustling streets of a city. For our protagonist, the life journey has passed through waters: rivers, seas, and oceans.
According to sea-news.az which cites seanews.az, we are talking about Mukhtar Bahman oglu Akhundov — a veteran seaman, recipient of the President’s personal pension, holder of the “Taraggi” (Progress) medal, winner of dozens of awards, and a long-voyage captain. His life journey, which serves as an example for many, began on the banks of the Kura River, extended to the infinite horizons of the Caspian, grew across various seas and oceans of the world, turned into cherished memories, and is now being read like a fascinating book.
Born in the city of Salyan, Mukhtar spent his childhood on the banks of the Kura River, often characterized by its wild and turbulent nature. The veteran captain recalls that while watching the river’s flow and the small vessels moving upon it for hours on end, he did not imagine himself as a passenger, but as a ship captain. Following the ripples of the Kura, his childhood dreams gradually blossomed into reality, leaving positive marks on his life.
Looking back at his early days, after graduating from secondary school in 1962, Mukhtar Akhundov entered the Ship Navigation faculty of the Baku Marine College named after Gafur Mammadov, graduating with high honors in 1967. Upon assignment, he joined the Caspian Shipping Company, where he successfully passed exams to work on the largest ships of that time. He began his career as an assistant captain on a 12,000-ton vessel. In 1977, in pursuit of his dreams and to further his professional career, he graduated from the Odessa Institute of Marine Engineers.
As the years passed, Captain Akhundov took on greater responsibilities. Rising through the ranks from third mate to ship captain and eventually becoming a long-voyage captain, this path was the result of professionalism, hard work, and devotion to the sea.
His service was not limited to the Caspian Sea. Voyages stretching from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and from various international ports to global maritime routes, became an integral part of his life. Among the memorable chapters of his professional career were the command of the ship “Tashkent,” acquired from Greece, the responsible voyages on the “Merkuri-2,” and the duty of representing and maintaining the prestige of Azerbaijani seamen in various countries.
A seaman’s life is more than just battling waves; it is also about building friendships with different peoples, fostering relations in ports, participating in sports, and sharing memories. Mukhtar speaks with great pleasure about his meetings with Turkish seamen and the conversations held in a spirit of mutual respect and brotherhood. From 1999 to 2003, he successfully held a key position as the head of the Azerbaijan State Caspian Shipping Company’s representative office in Turkey. Between 2003 and 2012, he served as the Deputy Chairman for International Relations, and in 2012, he was promoted to First Deputy Chairman of the Shipping Company.
Even while serving in senior management positions, the captain always considered himself first and foremost a ship captain, never distancing himself from the sea he dedicated his life to.
He also set an example with his passion for sports. He captained the Shipping Company’s volleyball team, leading them to victory in the spartakiad held among USSR seamen. During his 57-year maritime career, he learned a fundamental truth: being a seaman is not just a profession, but a lifestyle. This path makes a person resilient, responsible, and disciplined. According to the captain, a ship’s crew must be united like a single fist, building relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
Today, July 1, marks his 80th birthday. Although retired, Mukhtar Akhundov cannot imagine himself apart from the sea. For him, the sea is not just a workplace, but a school of life to which he dedicated his best years. The childhood dream that bloomed while watching ships on the banks of the Kura has turned into a grand life epic. The name of this epic is: love for the sea, loyalty to the profession, and captain’s honor.
Faiq Balabeyli
Member of the Azerbaijan Writers
Union Chairman of the AWU Trade Union Organization Presidential Pensioner Chairman of the “Social Support for Seafarers” Public Union ASCO Ship Captain
