• The Aktau Port dredging project was initiated mainly due to declining Caspian Sea water levels and sediment accumulation reducing navigation depth.

• Reduced depth limited the draft capacity of tankers, cargo vessels, and container ships entering the port.

• The project aims to restore safe navigation and improve cargo-loading efficiency at Aktau Port.

• The dredging program is strategically linked to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor).

• Aktau Port is a key logistics hub connecting China, Central Asia, the Caspian region, the Caucasus, and Europe.

• Dredged material is planned to be reused for land reclamation, expanding the port territory by approximately 170 hectares.

• Maintenance dredging had previously been conducted periodically, mainly near berths and access channels, but on a smaller scale.

• The current project is larger than previous campaigns and includes multi-phase deepening and infrastructure expansion.

• The project is planned in three phases:

Phase I: deepening to approximately 7.7 meters;
Phase II: additional dredging if Caspian levels continue falling;
Phase III: long-term adaptation and further port modifications.

• According to public statements, the project forms part of Kazakhstan’s long-term strategy to maintain maritime operations and increase cargo capacity along the Middle Corridor.