The Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Netherlands, Sapar Palvanov, held a meeting at the headquarters of Damen Shipyards Group, one of the world’s leading shipbuilding companies. The parties discussed opportunities for joint ship production at the “Balkan” Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant at the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, as well as cooperation in port dredging projects. It was also emphasized that Damen already has a successful history of cooperation with Turkmenistan in this field.
According to sea-news.az that this cooperation is also of particular interest to Azerbaijan. This is because the design for the dredging vessel “Muhandis Soltan Kazimov,” which was built at the Baku Shipyard by order of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, was prepared by Damen Shipyards Gorinchem B.V.
Delivered in May 2025, this vessel is the first locally produced dredging ship in Azerbaijan. It has a length of 61.2 meters, a beam of 10.5 meters, a draft of 1.65 meters, and a dredging depth of 18 meters. This vessel is of significant importance for enhancing navigation safety at the Port of Baku and in the Caspian Sea, enabling ports to accommodate larger vessels, and increasing the efficiency of cargo transportation.
The cooperation of both Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan with advanced European companies like Damen demonstrates that investments in port infrastructure, shipbuilding, and dredging in the Caspian region serve to increase the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor and further strengthen the region’s position as an international logistics hub.
