The opening ceremony of the “Dostluq” oil tanker, built at the Baku Shipyard—a company under AZCON Holding—and presented as a gift from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan, has taken place.
According to sea-news.az citing Azertag, the event was attended by the Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batyr Annayev, and the management of “Baku Shipyard” LLC and “Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping” CJSC (ASCO).
During the ceremony, the counterpart was briefed on the vessel’s technical specifications, purpose, operational capabilities, as well as current and future projects being carried out at the Baku Shipyard.
It was stated that the “Dostluq” is a tanker designed for the transport of petroleum products. The total length of the vessel is 141 meters, its width is 16.9 meters, its sea draft is 4.54 meters, its deadweight is 7,875 tons, and the total capacity of its cargo and slop tanks stands at 9,056 cubic meters. The tanker is equipped with two main engines, each with a capacity of 1,200 kW, and has a speed of 10 knots.
The construction of the “Dostluq” tanker once again demonstrates the Baku Shipyard’s capabilities to execute large-scale and technologically complex shipbuilding projects.
It should be noted that since its inception, “Baku Shipyard” LLC has successfully executed a total of 14 vessel construction projects and carried out repairs on more than 170 vessels. Currently, out of the 17 vessels included in the shipyard’s order book, the construction of 11 is underway, while 6 vessels are in the design phase. Existing projects are planned to be completed by 2026–2028.
At the same time, it is worth noting that last month a contract on cooperation in the field of shipbuilding was signed between “Baku Shipyard” LLC and “KTZ Express Shipping,” a company belonging to the “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC group of companies. Under this contract, the construction of two 537 TEU dry cargo container ships in line with modern international standards will be carried out. Furthermore, within the framework of strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates, a keel-laying ceremony was held at “Baku Shipyard” LLC to mark the commencement of construction for the first of two 780 TEU container ships intended for operation in the Caspian Sea. Thus, for the first time in the shipyard’s history, the number of vessels to be built based on international orders has reached 4.
The commissioning of the Azerbaijani-made “Dostluq” tanker in Turkmen waters holds significant importance in terms of the development of Azerbaijan’s shipbuilding industry, the international showcase of national industrial potential, as well as the strengthening of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
