Caspian Services has broken ground for the construction of its Atash marine base facility at the Port of Bautino on Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea coast.

Preliminary earth works have begun at the site with the expectation being that phase one of the facility, consisting of a level site area, wharf front, breakwater, dredged harbor and vessel maintenance area will be completed and operational by November 2008. Phase two of the marine base project, consisting of warehouse and office space, a water desalination plant and fueling station, is expected to be completed and operational by October 2009.

The marine base facility is an 80 million USD project jointly funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Caspian. The marine base will enable Caspian to provide an unparalleled range of services to the oil industry exploring the massive reserves of the Kazakhstan sector of the North Caspian Sea