Uzbekistan Considers Buying Ferries from Turkmenistan to Ease Caspian Delays

Uzbekistan is considering purchasing vessels from Turkmenistan’s shipyard, Orda.kz reports, citing Gazeta.uz.

Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov said that owning ferries would ease cargo bottlenecks across the Caspian, where delays currently reach 30–40 days.

For Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are very important in the transport and logistics sector because they are part of the Middle Corridor. Both countries, with their ports, ensure safe and timely crossings of the Caspian Sea and play a key role,
 Makhkamov told Uzbekistan 24.

Following a trilateral summit held this past Friday, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum on transport and logistics cooperation, including the creation of joint companies to streamline cargo flows.

The minister also confirmed an agreement with Turkmen officials on shipbuilding:

We signed a document on shipbuilding issues. For Uzbekistan, we plan to operate ferries on the Caspian. Given the increase in cargo traffic and 30–40-day delays, operating ferries will allow us to speed up crossings,
he said.

According to Makhkamov, Uzbekistan will study the technical and economic aspects of acquiring ships at Turkmen and Azerbaijani shipyards.