The project to be implemented in Tartus home to Russia’s only military base in the Mediterranean since 1971 will enable the launch of international standard shipbuilding activities in Syria and will be recorded as a first for the country’s maritime sector.
Turkish Company to Operate for 30 Years, Invest at Least USD 190 Million
Under the agreement signed between Syria’s Director General of Ports and Customs, Kuteiba Ahmed Badavi, and executives of Kuzey Star, the Turkish company will build, equip, and operate the shipyard for a period of 30 years. It is projected that at least USD 190 million will be invested in quays, storage areas, and infrastructure during the first five years. Officials stated that the project will not impose any financial burden on the Syrian state.
The agreement stipulates a 20% discount on repair and construction services for Syrian owned vessels, the creation of 1,700 direct and 3,500 indirect jobs, and a requirement that at least 95% of the workforce be Syrian nationals. Training programs and technology transfer are also included as part of the cooperation. Once completed, the project is expected to turn Tartus into a regional maritime hub and open new investment opportunities for the Syrian economy.
Previous Agreement With Russian Company Terminated
Tartus Port returned to state control last January following the termination of a previous operating agreement with the Russian company Stroytransgaz. The contract, signed in 2019 and involving the Katerji Group, was annulled during the country’s political transition process, with all port assets transferred back to the Syrian treasury.
Strategic Importance Dating Back to the Soviet Era
Established under an agreement signed with the Soviet Union in 1971, the Russian naval base in Tartus remains Moscow’s only military foothold in the Mediterranean. The facility is equipped with floating piers capable of accommodating up to four medium-sized vessels simultaneously.
Kuzey Star Well Known in Russia
Kuzey Star is a Turkish company that has previously undertaken major projects in Russia. In 2021, the company signed an agreement with Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorport) for the construction of icebreaker vessels under the “Project 23620” program.
The new shipyard investment at Tartus Port is widely viewed as a significant development for both Turkey Syria relations and maritime activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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