OREANDA-NEWS. April 02, 2010. Consultancy firm Royal Haskoning has released news about a new port at the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, that will provide a strategic alternate route for goods headed from China to Europe.

"Currently, the Port of Baku is a main hub on the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) corridor that connects Europe via the Caucasus and Caspian Sea with Central Asia and China," said Royal Haskoning. "Its location will significantly impact on North-South corridor trade as well, allowing fast and reliable cargo services between Russia’s north-west and Persian Gulf states and Indian Ocean. It is therefore vital that the new port will be able to further expand as the area continues to develop. In parallel EU seeks to support the development of contemporary International Logistics Centre in the close vicinity to the new port."

The main focus of the new port will be a rail ferry terminal connecting the ports of Aktau, Kazakhstan and Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, to Baku. The new port will also provide a general cargo terminal, cargo handling facilities, ro-ro facilities and a passenger terminal. The construction of large container terminal facilities at the new port are also envisaged further down the line. Dredging for the new port is expected to start by year-end.