Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Veliyev, what role does the Shipping Company play in the Caspian oil-gas sector?
Rauf Veliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company: As a shipping company, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company has been providing services related to the offshore oil-gas resources production. The range of services includes seismic and geological survey, transportation of offshore jackets and construction of piers, drilling of oil and gas wells, renovation of offshore facilities, performing of certain repair work during operation, firefighting, laying of oil and gas pipelines, delivery of oilmen to work sites, transportation of fuels and chemical reagents, subsea engineering and rescue work as well as a number of others.
CE: What are the current transport capacities of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company?
Rauf Veliyev: Well, we are competitive enough in the present times of tough competition. But as an organization with rich history, we also adhere to a modern approach when running business and try to surpass our competitors in major areas of activity.
At present our merchant fleet consists of 97 vessels, including 33 tankers, 13 ferries, 14 universal dry cargo ships, 2 Ro-Ro type ships as well as various technical and support ships. The specialized fleet is operating 188 vessels, including 23 tugboats and supply vessels, 15 crane ships, 2 diving, 2 pipe-laying, 5 engineering-geological, 2 passenger vessels and a number of other small displacement vessels.
Over a 158-year history of Azerbaijani shipping, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Closed Joint-Stock Company, established two years ago by the order of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, has worked out a new strategy and carried out a broad-scale work on formation of the new structure.
Nowadays, we are aspiring to expand our transport facilities, professionalism and geographic reach.
CE: Does the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company plan to expand its fleet using available shipbuilding capacities?
Rauf Veliyev: We are not only planning but are also working on it. Last year we managed to purchase 1 tanker, 3 supply-tug vessels and 2 dry cargo ships, using the company’s internal resources and relying on the state support. For instance, in 2014 President Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony of launching of Lankaran support ship which is the unique in the Caspian Sea in terms of its technical specifications. This vessel, equipped with DP2 (dynamic positioning) system and possessing broad technical capabilities, will be used to implement such projects as Shah Deniz-2, Shafag-Asiman and Absheron Faza-1. Nasimi tanker was purchased last year. It is a modern tanker with a lifting capacity of 13,000 tonnes. Purchased were also Uzeyir Hajibeyli and Natavan dry cargo ships which enabled us to reach the water areas beyond the Caspian Sea.
As far as the available shipbuilding capacities are concerned, I am proud to say that the Baku shipyard has been assigned to build 3 passenger vessels. It will take less than a year to have them commissioned.
CE: How is the Shipping Company contributing to the development of the TRACECA transportation corridor? Will the ferries of the CJSC be able to increase cargo and passenger transportation related to the forth-coming opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway?
Rauf Veliyev: Nowadays, the invaluable role that the restoration of the Great Silk Way plays in expansion of cooperation and development of the member-states of the Eurasian Transportation Corridor is evident. This way promotes rapprochement of continents, integration of economy and culture. Our transport fleet offers cargo transportation in the section crossing the Caspian Sea. Since the beginning of the year our vessels have been performing transit transportation (from Central Asia to Europe and back) of approx 3 mln tonnes of cargoes. We are transporting main cargoes from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
It is worth mentioning that over the past year we have diversified transported cargoes. Earlier cement and clinker accounted for 92% of cargo that our dry cargo ships transported. Up to present we have managed to reduce this indicator down to 46%. Wheat, metal, corn and other products form the rest of the cargo. As you know, diversification provides protection from possible crisis.
As far as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad is concerned, we are looking forward to its commissioning. It certainly will increase the volume of both passenger and cargo transportation in the Caspian. I think our fleet and vessels that have been ordered are to fully cover the required volumes at the initial stage. In future, we are to expand our fleet as the volume of cargo and passengers will be growing. In this way, just like in other projects, I believe we will contribute to successful implementation of this regionally significant project as well.
CE: Are the vessels of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company ready for transportation of expected large volumes of oil and expansion of the sailing geography of Azerbaijani vessels?
Rauf Veliyev: As I have already mentioned, at present our fleet includes 33 tankers. The deadweight of the oil fleet totals over 230,000 tonnes, which makes us capable of transporting 8.6 mln tonnes by tankers annually and about 2 mln tonnes of oil and oil products, loaded in wagons, by ferries of the transport fleet.
Regarding the second part of your question, as I have mentioned earlier, the purchase of dry cargo ships Uzeyir Hajibeyli and Natavan enabled us to reach the water areas beyond the Caspian Sea. Our vessels sail in the Black and Mediterranean seas, which in its turn ensured the return of our fleet to this basin after a rather long break.
CE: It is no secret that the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company employs several thousands of people. The sphere of your activity is rather specific. What could you say about the level of the occupational safety and environment protection?
Rauf Veliyev: We have created a corresponding department bearing responsibility for quality, occupational safety and environmental protection. However, to keep up with the modern requirements and standards we continue working on acquiring international certificates ISO 9001(quality management system), ISO 14001(environmental management system) and OHSAS 18001 (health and safety management systems).
CE: What is your vision about the future of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company?
Rauf Veliyev: Firstly we intend to strengthen and expand our activity at international markets where we are already operating. As a modern and flexible organization we aspire to expand the sailing geography both in close waters and within the World Ocean space in future. Therefore, it seems quite natural to me, considering the implementation of large-scale investment international transport projects by Azerbaijan, which Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company will be actively involved in.
