Transporters face 10-day delays for RORO services across the Caspian Sea, urging Azerbaijan to expedite ferry services amid ongoing transit issues.
After the truck transit crisis with Iran, transporters who turned their route towards the Caspian Sea have now hit a RORO wall.
Vehicles wanting to cross the Caspian Sea via RORO from Baku have been waiting for a ship for 10 days. Those wishing to use this route are also urging Azerbaijan to start ferry services as soon as possible due to the delays.
Speaking after his inspections in Baku, UND Executive Board Chairman Fatih Şener stated, 'The solution to the problem is very simple. Instead of RORO, which is facing issues finding a port to dock in Turkmenbashi and is also unable to find return cargo, we should use a ferry that has no port issues and can also carry wagons, thus eliminating the return cargo problem. When a ferry is allocated, there will be no need to enter Baku, and we will be able to use Alat Port, which is 80 km closer. This can be implemented with the permission of the Baku administration. Both sides have suitable port conditions, and there will be no waiting.'
Şener indicated that RORO would send the desired number of vehicles to the other port within the city, stating, 'Thus, the ferry's load will also be partially divided with RORO. We urgently expect our Azerbaijani brothers to allocate 2 ferries to Turkish vehicles and ensure our passage from Alat Port, which was inaugurated on September 25, without any waiting. The new port and new pier technology will also increase the ferry loading capacity by 20%. Since hundreds of vehicles will not enter Baku, everything will be better. Until the ports on the Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan sides are made suitable for RORO vessels, our trucks should be transported by ferries.'
Fatih Şener continued: 'Turkish vehicles prefer to use the Caspian crossing instead of Iran for their transports to the Turkic Republics. Setting aside the problems they encounter on the road route, long waiting times and fees are the most significant obstacles to ship usage. Although the price has recently reached an affordable level due to the temporary increase in transit prices in Iran, transporters are not using this route due to long waiting times.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
