Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

meet current standards (Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2010). Turkmenistan has formed its fleet over the last 20 years. The country has purchased four general-pur- pose dry cargo ships, six oil tankers and many aux- iliary vessels for various purposes, and intends to develop its shipping sector further. All of the old ships were recycled (National Contribution). Turkmenistan has been a member of the IMO since 1993 and has acceded to the main conven- tions adopted under the aegis of the organiza- tion. In February 2015, following ratification by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Protocol of 1997 on Amendment of the International Conven- tion for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, amended by the Protocol of 1978, came into force with Annex IV, Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships. The design of the new tankers takes into account all of the special requirements and environmen-

tal restrictions imposed by global oil compa- nies. There has been a significant improvement in the technical and economic specifications of the tankers compared with the old vessels of the same dead weight: automated controls are in place, oil products cannot be discharged into the sea even in the event of an accident, and safe crew working conditions have been developed for all modes of operation. As a result, vessels of this type can operate in special ecological zones. This is extremely important in helping to safe- guard the biodiversity of the fragile ecosystem in the Caspian Sea (Turkmenistan, 2013). 6.5. Ports and harbour infrastructure Most of the Caspian ports are being reconstruct- ed due to the expansion of shipping activities. The Port of Baku in Azerbaijan has long been an important port in the region. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are both currently engaged in expanding their shipping industries and the as-

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