Another significant event has taken place in the development of Azerbaijani industry. The “Dostluq” tanker, built at the Baku Shipyard and designed for the transport of petroleum products, has been commissioned.
According to sea-news.az this event is viewed as an international validation of the country’s shipbuilding potential and modern production capabilities. Launching its operations in the Caspian basin, the tanker opens up new opportunities in regional freight transportation. The project is considered one of the outcomes of the policy implemented toward developing Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector, expanding industrial production, and forming an export-oriented economy. The entry of the “Dostluq” tanker into international operation demonstrates that Azerbaijan is strengthening its position not only as an exporter of energy resources but also as an executor of complex industrial projects.
Modern Technical Specifications and Production Capabilities
Built on the basis of modern technical solutions, the tanker possesses high operational performance indicators. The length of the vessel is 141 meters, its width is 16.9 meters, and its sea draft is 4.54 meters. With a deadweight of 7,875 tons, the total capacity of the vessel’s cargo and slop tanks stands at 9,056 cubic meters.
Equipped with two main engines, each with a capacity of 1,200 kilowatts, the tanker can travel at a speed of 10 knots. These specifications enable the vessel’s efficient and sustainable operation in the Caspian basin.
According to Ruslan Talibov, Chairman of the Board of “Baku Shipyard” LLC, the “Dostluq” project is one of the tangible results of the high-tech industrial environment taking shape in the country. The project demonstrates the capacity of local production to fulfill complex engineering tasks. According to him, the Baku Shipyard has become one of the cornerstone enterprises of the country’s industrial infrastructure since it commenced operations. To date, 14 vessels have been built and repair works have been carried out on more than 170 vessels at the facility.
International Cooperation and New Orders
Currently, there are 17 vessels in the shipyard’s order book. Out of these, 11 are in the construction phase, while 6 are in the design stage. At the same time, new projects are being implemented in the direction of international cooperation. Within the framework of recent agreements, the construction of cargo ships is being continued, and the building of container ships for the Caspian Sea is underway. The commissioning of the “Dostluq” tanker in Turkmen waters creates an additional impulse for the development of economic and transport cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Ruslan Talibov noted that against the backdrop of increasing cargo turnover in the Caspian basin and the expansion of regional logistics routes, the significance of such projects will rise even further.
A Symbol of Azerbaijan’s Industrial Potential
Consequently, the “Dostluq” tanker is evaluated not merely as a new means of transport, but also as a crucial project reflecting Azerbaijan’s modern industrial potential, engineering capabilities, and international cooperation perspectives. This project goes down in history as another successful step demonstrating the strengthening positions of the country’s shipbuilding industry on both a regional and international scale.
