Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.5 / Trend A.Taghiyeva /
Turkey has completed the construction of its first domestic research vessel, the Zaman newspaper reported on Tuesday. Previously cargo ships were built in the country.
The ship named TÜBİTAK Marmara will be launched on Feb.17. According to the newspaper, the ship has a length of 45 metres and a width of nine metres. Construction of the ship cost 13.8 million lira.
The vessel was constructed by Turkey's private sector and designed to make underwater maps, study the seabed and establish the level of pollution in the sea.
In addition, the ship will be able to conduct research at a depth of 3000 metres under the water allowing it to carry out seismic work on exploration of hydrocarbons.
Earlier it was reported that the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) intends to purchase a research vessel for the exploration of oil and gas from Norway, which will cost the corporation $165 million. It is expected that the vessel will arrive in Turkey in the first quarter of 2013.