RINA to certify major Caspian port and logistics 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 $1.5bn Turkmenbashi International Port is being built by one of the leading Turkish construction companies, Gap Insaat Yatırım ve Dış Ticaret A.Ş. 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 tonnes by 2020.

Michele Francioni, CEO, RINA Services, says, “RINA has been chosen for the project design review and 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 geo-strategic 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 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.”

RINA Services S.p.A. is the RINA group company active in classification, certification, inspection and testing services. RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 294 million Euros in 2013, over 2,500 employees, and 163 offices in 57 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

For more information:
Giulia Faravelli
Media Relations Manager RINA
+39 010 5385505
giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Victoria Silvestri
Media Relations RINA
+39 010 5385555
victoria.silvestri@rina.org