KTZ Express Shipping: two multipurpose dry cargo ships for the Caspian being built in Baku

During the Kazakh President’s working visit to Baku for the CICA summit, documents were exchanged on the construction of two multipurpose dry cargo ships for KTZ Express Shipping, a subsidiary of national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Ulysmedia reported citing KTZ on 15 October 2026. The contracts were signed in April 2026, and the ships are being built by Baku Shipyard. They are intended for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

The shipyard’s chairman Ruslan Talybov earlier disclosed the specifications (Report.az, 4 May 2026): each ship is 140.97 m long and 16.9 m wide, with a draught of 5.56 m at sea and 3.60 m on rivers. Deadweight is about 9,900 t at sea and 5,057 t on rivers, container capacity 537 TEU and 433 TEU respectively; two 1,600 kW main engines give about 11 knots. The contract term is 28 months from signing.

For project logistics via Kuryk/Aktau — Caspian — Baku/Alat, a dedicated multipurpose fleet adds carrying capacity on the sea leg, which often sets the timeline for the whole equipment supply chain.

Sources: Ulysmedia, 15 October 2026; Report.az, 4 May 2026.