On 17 September, AD Ports Group, a global enabler of trade, transport, logistics, and industry, announced awarding a contract to Baku Shipyard in Azerbaijan for the construction of two 780 TEUs container vessels that will serve trade routes across the Caspian Sea.
The contract was signed with the public legal entity “Azerbaijan Transport and Communication Holding” (AZCON), acting on behalf of “Baku Shipyard”.
The vessels, expected to be delivered in Q4 2027, will be deployed on key routes to optimise connectivity between key trading hubs within the Caspian Sea.
These shallow-draft vessels specifically designed for use within the Caspian Sea, will play a pivotal role in enhancing maritime connectivity, boosting trade volumes, and strengthening the trans-Caspian logistics corridor. The newbuilds have been designed to support the growing demand for containerised cargo capacity in the region and to ensure more efficient, reliable, and sustainable transport solutions.
This step follows AD Ports Group and its subsidiaries’ recent ventures in the Central Asian region, driven by their strategic priority to increase the efficient transportation of energy resources to global markets, while connecting diverse regions and stimulating economic growth.
In June 2025, the Group announced the inauguration of the first phase of Tbilisi Intermodal Hub, Georgia’s first modern, bonded container and intermodal terminal, and a key logistics link in the Group’s emerging Central Asian transport strategy. The state-of-the-art, rail-linked logistics centre connects the Caspian and Black seas through Georgia, forming a vital part of the Middle Corridor, the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe.