BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 22
By Amina Nazarli - Trend:
Turkmenistan’s OJSC Balkan shipbuilding and repairing yard will build two Ro-Ro ferries with an open deck, and one dry cargo ship, Trend report citing Orient news agency.
The lower decks of the ferries, with a carrying capacity of 5,100 tons, are designed to transport freight railway cars.
As part of Turkmenistan's socioeconomic development program until 2025, the Balkan shipbuilding yard is required to build and operate 12 ships.
The ships for the Turkmen fleet will be built with funds from the OPEC Fund for International Development covering approximately 30 percent ($45 million) of the total project cost and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) financing 60 percent ($90.15 million).
The new ships are aimed to increase the utilization of the Turkmenbashi seaport on the Caspian Sea, part of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor and one of the largest ports in the country.