The Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan.

Amid the rapid economic growth in the Caspian Sea region, Azerbaijan has seen impressive expansion in the past nine years, with a nine fold increase in its GDP. In order to keep up with this development and secure its place as an international player, the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is investing heavily in infrastructure and economic regeneration with a number of redevelopment programmes.

At the centre of this development is Baku city and its bay, which are being transformed into a modern waterfront development. As a result the current port of Baku, situated in the middle of the bay, and other industrial marine infrastructure, is to be moved away from the city centre.

In early 2009 The Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan awarded Royal Haskoning a contract to provide complete design and engineering services, including initial site investigations, port master plan, plus tender and construction support. Once the new port is complete, it will provide a modern international gateway to the Caspian Sea. Construction is set to begin in 2010 and be completed around 2014.

As part of the programme, the existing port will be demolished, while a new port will be constructed at an undeveloped site some 65 km south of the city at Alyat.

Commenting on the project, Royal Haskoning’s Port and Maritime Consultant, Bunno Arends said: “We are developing a Port Master Plan that will include all site investigation works involving bathymetry, topography and geotechnical soil investigations. In addition, the design of the port will include dredging and reclamation works, marine structures and onshore facilities, leading onto preparation of the tender documents for the construction of Phase1 of the new port.”

For more information you can download a PDF project sheet here.