Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan to relaunch Caspian passenger ferry service

BAKU. Sept 9 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan has proposed restarting passenger ferry service across the Caspian Sea on the Kuryk-Baku route, Kazakh Ambassador Alim Bayel said.

"The service operated until 2020 but was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the halt, about 1,500 passengers used the Kuryk-Baku-Kuryk route annually," Bayel said, according to a statement from the embassy.

The ambassador said he expected demand to be even stronger now. "Relaunching the ferry line will give momentum to passenger links between the two countries, boost tourism exchanges and expand the Middle Corridor's potential," he said.

Azerbaijan has backed the proposal, and transport authorities from both countries have already begun work on urgently restoring the service, the embassy said.

Currently, passenger travel between the two countries is limited to air travel, with 37 weekly flights connecting Baku to Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau and Atyrau.