During President Serdar Berdimuhamedovs recent state visit to Azerbaijan, he was gifted a oil tanker named “Dostlug” (Friendship) for the brotherly nation of Turkmenistan. This event symbolizes the centuries-old friendship between the Turkmen and Azerbaijani people, which has now reached a new level of state cooperation on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
According to sea-news.az citing AZERTAC, an article published in the Turkmen media states that the new cargo ship, built at the Baku Shipyard, immediately set sail on its maiden voyage and arrived at the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, where a grand welcoming ceremony was held. The tanker, anchored at the modern port on the Turkmen coast, was greeted by city administration representatives, honorary elders, port specialists, maritime students, and numerous local residents. Musical performances by culture and art figures played a major role in the welcoming program.
The “Dostlug” oil tanker, now part of the maritime fleet and a symbol of the unbreakable Turkmen-Azerbaijani friendship, will expand the capacity of the country’s merchant marine. The ship is 141 meters long, 16.9 meters wide, and has a cargo capacity of 8,000 tons. The tanker will serve to increase the volume of hydrocarbon transportation across the Caspian Sea, which, in turn, will contribute to the growth of trade turnover between the two countries.
The tanker was built taking into account modern requirements for shipping and maritime safety. Advanced technologies are used to control the ship’s movement and navigation.
The ceremony participants were introduced to the modern technical capabilities of the ship and wished it successful voyages and fair winds in the waters of the friendly and brotherly Caspian Sea, hoping it serves the prosperity and welfare of both the Turkmen and Azerbaijani peoples, as well as the further strengthening of economic and trade relations.
