Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, 20 February / Trend H. Hasanov/
Within the framework of the planned upgrading of naval ships at the international port of Turkmenbashi the towing vessel Alaja was uplifted and installed on keel dry dock blocks, according to the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper.
During the dock repair it is planned to install guard rails, the main deck with a new gunwale and to upgrade the deck superstructure and engine room.
Upon completion the ship repairers will start equipping the vessel with modern navigation equipment. 'For example, the main engine and auxiliary diesel generator will be replaced by new more powerful installations and in the wheelhouse, a high performance control and observation equipment', the article said.
This includes mini radio-stations, fathometer and GPS Navigator whose receiver is linked to the most trustful modern global navigation satellite system.
Turkmenistan is preparing a project on starting ship repair with a base at Turkmenbashi Port.
This is as a result of increased transit by marine transportation and the fact Turkmenbashi Port will become a major entrepot for the system of foreign economic relations of Turkmenistan, as well as a major link in the international transit route of Europe-Caucasus-Asia which goes from the west to east.
During the last few years Turkmenistan has actively undertaken the creation of its own tanker fleet. The vessels are purchased in Russia and the Baltic countries. All of them are used for cargo transportation along the Caspian Sea frontier, delivering the crude oil from the Turkmen ports of Alaja and Ekerem to the oil terminal at Kenar.