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First Azerbaijani-flag registration of a non-self-propelled drilling unit
A non-self-propelled drilling unit had never been registered under the Azerbaijani flag. We registered the first one, the “Neptune” drilling rig, enabling Caspian Oilfield Services, a Dubai-based offshore drilling contractor, to start a long-term drilling campaign with Umid Babek Operating Company in the Caspian.
- Client
- Caspian Oilfield Services
- Counterparty
- Umid Babek Operating Company (UBOC)
- Authority
- State Maritime and Port Agency
- Completed
- October 2025
Why it mattered
There was no established procedure, so every step, from flag registration to entry into territorial waters, was worked out with the State Maritime and Port Agency.
What we did
- Structured the project and ran it end to end: charter, import and entry into territorial waters
- Registered the unit under the Azerbaijani flag and obtained its maritime certification
- Secured offshore, customs and environmental permits, and continue to handle their renewal
- Obtained employment permits for the international and local crew
- Negotiated with UBOC and state bodies on contractual and regulatory issues