27 June 2026
RanMarine Technology’s WasteShark autonomous surface vessel was officially presented at Baku’s Seaside National Park on 26 June, marking the start of a flagship initiative to improve the ecological condition of Baku Bay. The presentation, attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of the IDEA Public Union, whose initiative drove the project forward, was covered widely across Azerbaijani national media.
Arzu Aliyeva (2nd from left) and Leyla Aliyeva (orange skirt 2nd from right) and dignitaries arrive for the launch
Responding to a changing Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea has faced mounting environmental pressure in recent years. Declining water levels have concentrated pollutants in coastal zones, leaving shallow bays and enclosed water areas increasingly vulnerable to the accumulation of floating waste, biomass, and surface contaminants. Baku Bay, which borders the Seaside National Park’s waterfront, is among the areas affected.
The WasteShark is well suited to these conditions. Remotely operated and equipped with sensors and cameras, it is designed to collect waste and organic debris from the water surface with precision and agility, reaching areas that conventional clean-up methods cannot easily access.
A phased approach to Baku Bay
The initial deployment will focus on localised cleanup operations within the Seaside National Park’s water area. Based on results obtained, the programme is intended to expand across a wider area of Baku Bay, covering a broader range of operational formats.
The Seaside National Park is managed by the Seaside Boulevard Administration (SBA), one of Azerbaijan’s most recognised park management bodies. Stretching 16 kilometres along the Caspian coastline and covering 215 hectares, the park holds Green Flag Award status and is the first national park outside of Europe to have received that recognition.
RanMarine Technology
RanMarine Technology is a Rotterdam-based clean technology company developing autonomous surface vessels for waterway management, water quality remediation, and environmental data collection. The WasteShark is deployed in ports, harbours, lakes, and urban waterways across the world, helping operators keep water clean more efficiently and with less impact than traditional methods.
Original news story and pictures via
operativmm.az
and
https://1news.az/
