BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 27. The construction of a new Ro-Pax ferry, which holds significant importance for the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), continues to advance, Trend reports via ASCO.
The ferry will serve as a key component for cargo transportation across the Middle Corridor, connecting East and West, and will benefit all participants involved in this critical trade route
According to ASCO's statement, this ferry is the third of its kind being built as part of the company's strategic development plan, which aligns with the directives of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
"The hull construction of the ship, which was ordered two years ago and is being built at the Baku Shipbuilding Plant, is now 88 percent complete. Engineering work is 97 percent finished, while procurement and supply tasks are 82 percent completed. The vessel has already had its main engines, firefighting systems, freshwater systems, cargo lift equipment, pumps, and electrical panels installed. Overall, 49 percent of the project has been completed, and the ferry is expected to be operational by the first quarter of the coming year.
The design of the new ferry is identical to that of the 'Azerbaijan' and 'Zarifa Aliyeva' ferries, which were added to ASCO’s fleet in 2021 and 2022.
This new ferry will have a deadweight of 5,740 tons, a speed of 14 knots, a length of 154.5 meters, a width of 17.7 meters, and a hull height of 7.5 meters. It will be capable of transporting 100 passengers, 56 tank wagons, or 50 cargo vehicles/TIRs simultaneously.
The new Ro-Pax ferry, along with other ferries in the ASCO fleet, will play an essential role in maintaining the stability of Azerbaijan’s cargo transport potential, contributing to the country’s transit capacity, and enhancing the transport corridors passing through Azerbaijan.
Before the construction of Ro-Pax type ferries in Azerbaijan, similar vessels were built abroad and imported, often with reduced parameters to allow passage through the Volga-Don Canal, which impacted the volume of cargo that could be transported. Now, such vessels are being constructed locally at the Baku Shipbuilding Plant, marking a significant improvement for the region’s shipping needs, particularly for transporting wagons, vehicles, and passengers across the Caspian Sea," the ASCO statement said.
The “Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping” Joint-Stock Company merged the country’s main fleets, the Azerbaijan State Caspian Sea Shipping Company and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic’s Caspian Sea Oil Fleet. The “Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping” CJSC has two shipyards and offshore support and commercial fleets. The merchant fleet has 51 ships: 20 tankers, 12 ferries, 16 dry cargo, 1 Ro-Ro, and 2 Ro-Pax. By integrating maritime fleets, the “Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping” Closed Joint-Stock Company takes on high-level responsibilities.
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