Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 31 / Trend H.Hasanov /
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov instructed to implement a radical plan for the modernization of the Turkmenbashi sea port as soon as possible, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper said on Saturday.
"Berdymuhamedov set a task before the workers of water transport to mobilize their own funds, state lending and foreign investment to implement a radical plan to modernize the port of Turkmenbashi as soon as possible due to the constant increase in traffic," the article says.
International rating of Turkmenbashi port, as key sea gates of the country and Central Asia, is growing.
Monthly turnover of the port increases by tens of millions of ton-kilometers compared to basic indicators of preceding periods due to consolidation and centralization of management of water transport of Turkmenistanm acquisition of modern vessels, cargo handling equipment, construction of new stores.
"Commercial operation of the port, bringing millions into the treasury of the state is becoming steadily profitable," the article said. Domestic, import and transit cargoes are shipped from the terminals to the domestic market and abroad by all kinds of land and water transport.
There is a growing activity of the bulk-oil fleet of the country in transporting the hydrocarbon raw materials for petroleum refining industry and the export of Turkmen cleaner fuel, light and heavy petroleum products, coke, polypropylene and other petrochemical products.
The construction of different types of Turkmen foreign ships and ferries, delivering building materials, cars and heavy trucks, specialized wheel-tracked vehicles, bulk and general cargo, including factory equipment is growing rapidly in the port.
Today, dozens of trucks loaded with large-sized modular units are sent from the port to build a plant for desulfurization of natural gas in Yoloten province and the industrial complex for production of ammonia and urea in Mary.
State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan with the assistance of international consulting companies have prepared feasibility study of the port's further development.
From January 1, 2012 a preparatory stage for a full-scale reconstruction of coastal structures began in the port.
Neutral Turkmenistan reported that, to this end a lot with area of two and a half acres for the transfer of support services offered currently along the port's berthage was allocated. On the site marking subobjects in a single complex of support services continues, construction of which will be completed in the second half of 2013.
It will include warehouses of general-purpose, civil defense and mobilization reserve, ship repair machine shop, rigging shop, repair and laundry room, repair and construction site and other services. Universal complexes will be supplemented with boxes for cars and trucks, building of supervisory service, power sector, automation and communication, administrative building with life support facilities connected to external communication networks.
Turkmen Galkan Hojalyk Jemgyýeti construction company is constructing multi-functional facility. Its construction is the first step in implementing a series of innovative projects to modernize sea port from 2012 to 2020.
In the context of the general plan the enterprise plans in the medium term organization and arrangement of fire and rescue base, construction of a logistics center, reconstruction of oil terminals, as well as construction of ship repair and construction plant, new docks, piers, and including the quay wall with length of one and a half kilometre for container and dry cargo vessels in its territory.
"Large-scale plans for Turkmenbashi port aim to create in Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea ultramodern staging cluster, running on the technological innovative basis, which has a strong merchant fleet, capable of beneficial cooperation with foreign partners and expansion of its presence in the global transport market", the material said.