Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

A contract worth 132 million manats ($80 million) was signed in Baku on October 26 for construction of two new unique Ro-Pax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) ferries.

The ferry is designed for freight and passenger traffic. The vessel with deadweight of 5,540 tons will be able to carry up to 56 tanks, 46 gondola cars, 44 freight cars, 50 trucks and will have 100 passenger seats.

The ferries will be built at Baku Shipyard LLC upon the order of Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company. The project’s designer is Ukraine’s Marine Engineering Bureau.

The contract was signed by Head of Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company Rauf Valiyev and General Manager of Baku Shipyard Khee Chong Lam.

The signing ceremony was attended by Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Head of State Maritime Administration Gudrat Gurbanov, representatives of Marine Engineering Bureau and Baku Shipyard, as well as by Rovnag Abdullayev, President of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, which owns a controlling share in the shipbuilding plant.

Currently, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company has 13 ferries, two of which are Ro-Ro type ferries. Seven of those ferries can carry up to 28 cars, while other six ferries can carry 52-54 cars.

Economy Minister Mustafayev told reporters that the construction of the new ferries will take two to three years. Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping is the customer, but, a part of expenses for the construction will be covered by the government, added the minister.

Founded in 2011 by Azerbaijan’s oil company SOCAR, owning 65 percent of its shares, Azerbaijan Investment Company ,owning 25 percent and Keppel Offshore Marine, holding 10 percent, Baku Shipyard is strengthening the economic and industrial potential of Azerbaijan.

Baku Shipyard is capable of constructing various vessels ranging from offshore support vessels, general cargo vessels, tug boats, crane vessels, specialized vessels and passengers vessels to tankers.

The yard has a capacity to produce 25,000 tons throughput per annum of steel works for new buildings and able to undertake 80 -100 vessels repairs and conversion of various types.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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