Dutch company Royal Boskalis has embarked on a major fleet renewal, converting one of its existing vessels into the world’s largest seabed rock installation (SRI) vessel. The new project, named Windpiper, will increase Boskalis’ capacity to 45,500 tonnes, doubling the company’s current capacity and cementing its leadership in this market segment.
The Industrial Cooperation Center “Central Asia” will appear on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The bill on ratification of the intergovernmental agreement was approved by the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. The new hub will be located next to the automobile checkpoints “Atameken” and “Gulistan”, providing convenient logistics between the two countries.
Yusen Logistics (Deutschland) GmbH, together with developer Prologis and key partners including the government, the city of Bottrop and Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., have officially opened a new logistics centre. The ceremony took place on the premises of the warehouse and included a traditional ribbon cutting and the Japanese ritual of “kagami-biraki” – breaking a sake barrel, symbolising a successful start to operations. The event was attended by Chairman and CEO of Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd. Hiroki Harada, who travelled from Japan especially to attend the opening.
After the launch of the second track on the Balkhash-1 – Moiynty section, a large-scale modernization of stations was carried out, aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of train traffic. Microprocessor centralization (MPC-QZ) integrated with automatic blocking, locomotive signaling and crossing signaling systems was introduced at the Kokdombak, Sarykum and Buyrek stations. The TsAB APSO system was also put into operation, providing reliable traffic control on double-track and single-track lines.
In January 2025, tariffs for road freight transportation in Kazakhstan increased by 0.7% compared to the same period last year. At the same time, international transportation increased in price by 1%, and domestic transportation decreased slightly by 0.3%.
Azerbaijani dry cargo vessel Murovdag of ASCO crossed the Strait of Magellan for the first time, opening a new chapter in the history of national shipping. This strategically important route is known for its difficult weather conditions and strong currents, making it one of the most difficult in the world.
Polaris Autoliners has launched a new weekly ro-ro service connecting Bremerhaven with Oslo and Drammen. The route is dedicated to the transportation of cars and is a response to the growing demand for logistics solutions for the automotive industry.
Brummer Logistik in Neuburg am Inn, Germany, was one of the first to receive the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 electric trucks. In mid-December, twelve of these vehicles entered service in the DACHSER network. The electric trucks, with a range of around 500 kilometers, will be used to transport products on both regional and long-haul routes in Germany and Austria.
The Kuryk port continues to increase cargo handling volumes, and in 2025, it is expected to handle about 2.45 million tons. Large-scale infrastructure modernization projects are planned, which will speed up ship handling and improve the efficiency of handling operations.
Rail Baltica is strengthening its role in the European transport network by becoming part of two key corridors at once. This large-scale project will connect the Baltic, Black and Aegean Seas, providing strategic routes to Ukraine and Moldova. The importance of the railway corridor is also increasing from a military point of view: Rail Baltica plays a key role in ensuring NATO military mobility, which underlines its importance for the security of the region.
