ASCO ferries for Caspian Sea crossings

ASCO uses several ships between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Most recent first-hand descriptions cover four vessels: Azerbaijan, Zarifa Aliyeva, Mercury-1 and Professor Gül.

For journey planning, use the Alat–Kuryk route guide or the Alat–Turkmenbashi route guide. The ASCO operator guide covers booking, ticket collection, contacts and vessel tracking.

A ship operating between Alat, Kuryk or Turkmenbashi is not necessarily taking foot passengers on every sailing. Passenger acceptance can change because of cargo, repairs or operational decisions. Confirm your specific departure rather than relying on the ship's usual route.^{1 2 3 4}

Azerbaijan

In May 2024, a traveler found the cabin comfortable, with a good mattress and a shower. Three meals were served, but they were glad they had brought extra fruit.⁵

In November 2024, another traveler had a clean cabin with bedding, a private toilet, a hot shower and electrical sockets. They could also go onto the outside deck.⁶

On 30 January 2025, travelers expecting to sail on Mercury-1 were moved to Azerbaijan after staff said that Mercury-1 needed repairs. They found their cabin clean and equipped with bedding, electrical sockets, a private toilet and a shower.¹

Zarifa Aliyeva

In October 2024, a traveler found their cabin clean and received bedding. The cabin had electrical sockets and an en-suite shower.⁷

In March 2025, another traveler had a comfortable cabin with supplied bedding, electrical sockets and an en-suite wet room.⁸

Mercury-1

Mercury-1 carries passengers on some sailings, but not necessarily on every departure.

In June 2025, a traveler took Mercury-1 to Kuryk. Three meals were served, and they could use a common area and the outside deck.²

In August 2026, a traveler waiting at Alat was told that the Mercury-1 departure in port at the time was carrying cargo only.³

On 30 January 2025, travelers booked on Mercury-1 were transferred to Azerbaijan after staff said that Mercury-1 needed repairs.¹

Seeing Mercury-1 at the port or on ASCO's tracker therefore does not mean your departure will accept passengers.

Professor Gül

Passenger experiences aboard Professor Gül differ considerably.

In November 2018, one traveler received clean sheets and towels and shared a four-berth cabin with a truck driver. They could use a common room and the upper deck, and breakfast, lunch and dinner were served.⁹

Another traveler in September 2018 found the food acceptable but was unhappy with the sanitary facilities and the crew.¹⁰

In August 2019, a traveler found dirty mattresses, dirty bedding and sanitary areas, ants in the cabin and poor food.¹¹

During an Alat–Turkmenbashi crossing in June 2026, a traveler found the ship old and worn but usable. Their private cabin had a bed and sink, and they received sheets and a towel after asking. The communal shower had hot water, but neither its door nor the toilet door locked. Two meals were served.¹²

In August 2026, a traveler at Alat watched Professor Gül leave with cargo but without passengers.³

What about the other ASCO ships?

ASCO operates other ferries, but recent first-hand passenger information about them is scarce. A ship appearing on an ASCO route or vessel tracker may still be unavailable to foot passengers on a particular sailing.

What matters when planning your crossing

Do not plan around getting a particular ship. Instead, check:

1. which vessel is assigned to your departure;
2. whether that specific sailing is accepting foot passengers;
3. recent experiences on that vessel.

The 2024–2025 reports above describe comfortable cabins aboard Azerbaijan and Zarifa Aliyeva, while experiences on Mercury-1 and Professor Gül were more variable. The dated examples show why neither passenger acceptance nor onboard conditions should be assumed from the ship name alone.^{2 3 11 12}

Sources

1. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=62219#p62219; report by Silvan, 27 February 2025, describing a 30 January 2025 crossing ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=64825#p64825; report by Oshquist, 9 July 2025, describing a June 2025 crossing ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=69732#p69732; report by tr8lina, 30 August 2026 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=64493#p64493; report by RFM2027, 20 June 2025, describing a 1–5 June 2025 journey ↩

5. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&start=320&t=892; Caravanistan forum, Caspian Sea ferry discussion; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩

6. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=61394#p61394; report by Massimilippi, 21 November 2024 ↩

7. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=61109#p61109; report by Stanbridge2, 15 October 2024 ↩

8. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=62598#p62598; report by Alhul, 24 March 2025, describing a March 2025 crossing ↩

9. https://www.wongie.com/travel-story/crossing-the-caspian-sea-on-a-ferry/; Wongie, firsthand Caspian Sea crossing aboard Professor Gül; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩

10. https://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&start=140&t=892; report by Chukar, 20 September 2018 ↩

11. https://www.julicanorouzi.com/das-geisterschiff-oder-wer-ueberquert-das-kaspische-meer; Julica Norouzi, firsthand 2019 Caspian Sea crossing aboard Professor Gül; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩ ↩²

12. https://gabrielahereandthere.com/caspian-sea-ferry-cargo-ship-from-azerbaijan/; Gabriela Here and There, 19 June 2026, firsthand ASCO crossing from Alat to Turkmenbashi; accessed 4 September 2026 ↩ ↩²