Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.6
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Baku Shipyard and Azerbaijan Shipping Company (ASCO), are preparing to sign a new contract for crude oil tankers, Trend reports citing Imanverdi Hasanov, general manager of Baku Shipyard.
“Our major client is ASCO, for which we are currently constructing four vessels. Of these, two are RST 12C type crude oil tankers, an improved design with two units and a deadweight capacity of about 8,000 net tons. Construction of the hull for the first tanker is almost 100 percent complete. We are preparing to launch and test the vessel before delivery as per the original schedule,” he told TOGY.
He went on to add that the other two vessels are CNF 18C type Ro-Pax ferries that are based on a new concept and design created by ASCO and the Marine Engineering Bureau.
These vessels will be able to transport railway wagons (56) and trucks (44) and will be operating between Caspian Sea countries, added Hasanov.
“We are preparing to sign a new contract with ASCO for another set of crude oil tankers of the same design as the one we are constructing now. Also, the discussions are ongoing for the construction of various vessels such as a new 100-ton lifting capacity DP2 crane vessel, a 50-ton lifting capacity DP1 crane vessel, a 50-ton bollard pull tug boat, and a 120-ton bollard pull anchor-handling tug supply vessel. We hope to materialize these contracts in the near future,” he said.
Baku Shipyard LLC is a joint venture of SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) and Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited company, and it was opened by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in September 2013.
Keppel company owns 10 percent of the factory's shares and is fully responsible for its management and operation. SOCAR is the largest shareholder of the enterprise with a share of 65 percent, and it is followed by the AIC, which owns a quarter of the shipyard's shares.
The factory has been designed for the construction of a wide range of specialized and commercial vessels, including multi-purpose naval vessels such as platform supply vessels, as well as tankers and cargo vessels. The conditions for ship repair have also been created at the enterprise.
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