More than 80 percent of world trade is transported by sea, which is safe, financially beneficial and has a lower negative impact on the environment.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has been a member of the International Maritime Organization, an authoritative body of the United Nations, since May 1995. Today the number of member states of this organization is 175.
The State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established by Order No. 1271 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 6 February 2006 “On the establishment of the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan”.
The State Maritime Agency under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established on the basis of the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan by Decree No. 1785 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated January 12, 2018 “On some measures to improve management in the field of transport, communications and high technologies in the Republic of Azerbaijan”.
By this Decree, the Navigation Safety Center and Navigation Safety Center and Transport & Technical Support Department under the State Maritime Agency were placed under the authority of the State Maritime Agency with the status of a public legal entity.
According to Decree No. 1462 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated October 11, 2021 “On some measures to improve management in the field of maritime transport” with a view to improving the management, regulation, control mechanisms in the field of maritime transport, and optimization of the work carried out in this field, as well as in the field of state regulation of activities in the seaports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the formation of a competitive maritime transport industry a public legal entity the State Maritime and Port Agency was established under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the basis of the State Maritime Agency under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as public legal entities of Navigation Safety Center and Transport & Technical Support Department under the State Maritime Agency.
In accordance with the Charter, the State Maritime and Port Agency is a public legal entity involved in participation in the formation, implementation and development of state policy in the field of maritime transport in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, implementation of regulation and control in this field, taking measures in the field of maritime navigation safety, protection of human life and health at sea, protection of the marine environment, as well as training of seafarers, in the state regulation of activities in seaports and provision of services (navigation and lighthouse, pilotage, canal, anchor and vessel dues) related to the safety of navigation.
Necessary measures are being taken to optimally and effectively use the potential of our country in the field of maritime transport, the systematic application of constantly updated international requirements and practices in our country, as well as for the effective fulfillment of obligations under international agreements in the field of maritime transport.
Our country is developing multilateral cooperation in this field not only with the International Maritime Organization, but also with the International Labour Organization, the European Maritime Safety Agency, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and other international and regional organizations.
The development of seaports and shipping in our country, the renewal of the maritime fleet and construction of new ships that meet modern requirements are always in the center of attention and this issue is approached with special sensitivity.
Today, the maritime transport fleet includes passenger ferries, Ro-Ro vessels, oil tankers, dry cargo vessels, pipeline, scientific research, rescue and emergency, towing and diving support vessels, excavators, as well as large tonnage crane ships having no analogues.
