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NAVIGATORSEA LAND

Corridors & Network

Caspian Sea

The crossing that connects Central Asia to the Caucasus, and the constraint most corridor plans turn on.

Request a QuoteAll Corridors
Route
Aktau · Kuryk · Baku / Alat · Turkmenbashi; river-sea access via Volga–Don
Best for
Heavy-lift, ro-ro and project cargo to western Kazakhstan
Border points & gateways
AktauKurykBaku / AlatTurkmenbashiAnzali / AmirabadVolga–Don canal
Transit time
Transit-time ranges are published for each corridor only after internal validation, because corridor performance changes frequently. Ask us for the current range for your routing.
Navigator Sea Land corridor network mapSchematic map of Eurasia from Europe to eastern China showing the freight corridors Navigator Sea Land operates, with offices in Almaty and Atyrau. China Land Bridge: Shanghai – Xi'an – Lianyungang – Urumqi – Khorgos / Altynkol – Almaty – Saryagash – Tashkent – Dostyk / Alashankou – Astana. Middle Corridor (TITR): Xi'an – Urumqi – Dostyk / Alashankou – Astana – Aktau – Kuryk – Baku / Alat – Tbilisi – Poti / Batumi – Istanbul – Europe – Mersin. INSTC: Mundra / Nhava Sheva – Bandar Abbas – Jebel Ali – Tehran – Anzali – Aktau – Turkmenbashi – Bolashak – Atyrau. Caspian Sea: Aktau – Baku / Alat – Kuryk – Turkmenbashi – Atyrau – Tengiz. Europe & Türkiye: Europe – Istanbul – Tbilisi – Baku / Alat – Poti / Batumi – Astana. Air links: Europe to Almaty and Jebel Ali to Atyrau.Caspian SeaBlack SeaPersian Gulf / Arabian SeaMediterraneanAlmatyAtyrauAstanaAktauKurykTengizBolashakSaryagashTashkentBishkekKhorgos / AltynkolDostyk / AlashankouBaku / AlatTurkmenbashiAnzaliTehranTbilisiPoti / BatumiIstanbulMersinEuropeUrumqiXi'anLianyungangTianjinShanghaiMundra / Nhava ShevaBandar AbbasJebel Ali
  • Rail
  • Road
  • Sea / Caspian
  • Air (dashed)
  • Office
  • Port
  • Border crossing

The Route

We operate across the Caspian through Aktau and Kuryk on the eastern shore, Baku / Alat on the western, and Turkmenbashi to the south, using rail ferries, ro-ro tonnage, general cargo vessels and heavy-lift vessels depending on the piece. River-sea vessels reach the Caspian from the Black Sea and the Baltic via the Volga–Don canal in the navigation season.

Barge or heavy-lift tonnage is often the answer for cargo that will not go by ferry — a single oversized module, or a weight concentration no deck will take. It buys flexibility on dimensions at the cost of schedule, and works best when it is planned in from the start rather than reached for when a ferry booking fails.

Suitable Cargo

Heavy-lift and project cargo

Transformers, vessels and modules for Atyrau, Tengiz and the North Caspian fields.

Ro-ro and wheeled

Trucks, trailers, cranes and construction plant moving between the Caucasus and Kazakhstan.

Rail wagons and containers

Rail ferry services carry loaded wagons and containers between Alat and Aktau / Kuryk.

Documentation

  • Bills of lading or ferry waybills; cargo manifests and stowage plans approved by the carrier.
  • Lashing and securing plans for OOG pieces; IMDG declarations for dangerous goods.
  • Port handling arrangements at both shores, including craneage and laydown for heavy pieces.

Advantages and Constraints

Caspian Sea advantages and constraints
AdvantagesConstraints
Direct access to western Kazakhstan's oil and gas region from Europe and Türkiye.Finite vessel capacity; sailings are weather-dependent, particularly in winter.
Ferry, ro-ro and heavy-lift options for very different cargo profiles.Deck space is shared with all other Middle Corridor cargo at peak times.
River-sea access widens the vessel pool in the navigation season.Volga–Don navigation is seasonal and subject to draught limits.

Services and Industries on This Corridor

Industries

Have a cargo others call impossible?

Share your dimensions, weights and route. Our project engineers will respond within one business day with a feasible solution and a transparent quotation.

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