New Delhi. Bharat would construct 24 cargo ships for Russia over the next three years to ease commerce over the Caspian Sea. According to reports, a contract between Moscow and New Delhi would be inked on Thursday at an international event in Astrakhan, Russia.
The first four vessels will be built at a shipyard in Goa beginning in the first quarter of 2024, according to Dmitry Dubovik. According to him, Bharat would construct three types of boats for Russia: chemical tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships, with a total of 24 vessels delivered by 2027.
The Caspian Sea is the world’s biggest inland body of water, bounded by Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. It is fed by three major rivers and several minor waterways, giving a diverse range of trading routes.
The sea has experienced an increase in shipping activity over the last year, as new routes have emerged in response to EU sanctions on Russia.
The tankers were barred from entering European ports, forcing Moscow to divert its trade routes eastward.