Russia launches major Caspian Sea study to update shipping charts

A large-scale maritime expedition titled “Caspian Gate - 2025” has been launched in the Caspian Sea to monitor the condition of the shipping channel and study the seabed’s relief, the press service of the Caspian Flotilla announced.

According to the statement, cited by Russian media, the project is being carried out in cooperation with the hydrographic service of the Caspian Flotilla, together with scientists from the Astrakhan Region and the Republic of Dagestan. 

Over the course of the mission, specialists will measure the level of the Volga-Caspian shipping channel, track the speed of currents, and conduct detailed area and hydroacoustic surveys of the seabed.

To perform these tasks, the hydrographic vessels GS-599 and GS-202, equipped with echo sounders and advanced instruments for high-precision data collection, will be deployed. The expedition’s results will be used to plot depth measurements on specialised navigation charts and to update nautical maps.

The flotilla’s hydrographers, working in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, conduct such navigation projects annually in the Caspian Sea and in the Volga-Caspian Canal to ensure the safety of both military and civilian vessels.

The Caspian itself, the world’s largest inland body of water, straddles the border between Europe and Asia and is shared by Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. It stretches for about 1,200 kilometres in length and up to 320 kilometres in width, with a total area of some 371,000 square kilometres — larger than many recognised seas. Despite its name, it is technically a lake, since it has no natural outlet to the world’s oceans.

Its waters are partly saline but far less salty than the open seas, with salinity levels differing from one region to another. Rich in natural resources, the Caspian holds vast reserves of oil and gas beneath its seabed. It is also home to a unique ecosystem, most notably the Caspian sturgeon, valued worldwide for its caviar.

By Tamilla Hasanova