P&O Maritime Logistics and its parent company DP World will jointly launch a new container and breakbulk shipping line from Marmara to the Caspian Sea, via Russian inland waterways.
The new route, called Turkey – Caspian line, saw the completion of its trial voyage at the end of last month, connecting Turkey to the region of Central Asia and is expected to provide regular container-based shipping between these markets for the first time.
The Turkey – Caspian line provides speed and cost advantages, while also reducing carbon emissions by 17% compared to road-based transportation, according to a P&O Maritime Logistics statement.
“With this solution we can reduce carbon emissions by 17% or 0.5 tonnes per container, saving the customer on average 10-20% of the cost compared with trucking and bring the cargo to the destination 15% faster compared with rail, enabling our customers a range of benefits,” confirmed Martin Helweg, CEO of P&O Maritime Logistics.
“With land transport making up 95% of total carbon emissions for the transport sector, this new river-sea based route is more cost effective and environmentally-friendly than cargo transport,” he added.
Efficient door to door delivery will be offered through select third-party logistics partnerships for onward carriage into the landlocked areas of Central Asia – providing customers with a streamlined, hassle-free service, according to the company.
In 2020, approximately US$31.2 billion in trade took place between Turkey, Russia and Central Asia, while the region accounts for 6% of Turkey’s exports and 9.6% of Turkey’s imports. In the same year, US$17.8 billion of imports and US$4.5 billion of exports were made with Russia, one of Turkey’s largest trade partners.
With these markets being some of Turkey’s most important trading partners, P&O Maritime Logistics said it is well-placed to facilitate even closer trade connections between Turkish businesses and the region through DP World Yarimca with direct shipping via the Russian river systems into Aktau & Turkmenbashi ports in the Caspian Sea.
Additionally, the new line utilising P&O Maritime Logistics’ Multi-purpose vessel (MPV) will mainly transport containerised products such as industrial machines, construction materials, textiles, cosmetics, white goods, and marble, while additionally offering a convenient service for breakbulk & project cargo.
P&O Maritime Logistics believes that MPV vessels are well suited to navigate the Russian rivers and it is expected that at least two more vessels will be outfitted and classed for container carriage for the new line’s launch in the coming months.
The container terminal at DP World Yarimca is one of the largest in the İzmit Gulf and Turkey, with a capacity of 1.3 million TEU and offers specialised solutions such as super-post panamax quay cranes and electrified rubber tyred gantry cranes. During the trial voyage, these facilities enabled a fast vessel turnaround, contributing significantly to the efficiency of the service.
Kris Adams, CEO of DP World Yarımca, said, “With trade booming between these regions, the opening of a new sea route will undoubtedly be a boon to firms operating in these markets.”
