RINA to Certify Major Caspian Port and Hub Development

RINA Services has been awarded a contract to provide design review and third party certification services for a major port and logistics hub development at Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea coast of Turkmenistan.

The $1.5 billion Turkmenbashi International Port is being built by one of the leading Turkish construction companies, Gap Insaat Yat?r?m ve D?? Ticaret A.?. The port complex is due for completion in 2017 and will include four terminals, road and rail links, and a ship-repair yard. Freight throughput is expected to reach 25 million tons by 2020.

Michele Francioni, CEO of RINA Services, says, “RINA has been chosen for the project design review, construction monitoring, and certification because we can bring together maritime, construction, infrastructure, and project management skills. RINA has a strong footprint in Turkmenistan, which is a growing and important trading nation in a key geostrategic location. All parties respect our independence. We will provide our services to ensure the project is delivered on specification, making it a powerful economic generator in the Caspian region and a key link in the Silk Route.”

A major pipeline is already being built to link Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest natural gas deposit, to Turkmenbashi. The port complex will export oil and gas products and textiles, and will facilitate trade between Europe and the Middle East and Asia.

Says Francioni, “RINA’s experience with and focus on the environment is a key factor. The State Service of Maritime and River Transportation of Turkmenistan intends that the new port will be built from the outset as part of a multi-modal network linking road, rail and water transportation in an environmentally-friendly way. We know about ports, we know how to manage environmental issues, we know Turkmenistan, we understand what they want and we have good experience of working with Turkish construction companies on major infrastructure projects.”