Azerbaijan raises flag on Aframax type tanker "Khankendi"

The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) has announced that the Azerbaijani flag was raised on Aframax type tanker "Khankendi".

The tanker was acquired following a market survey by the joint venture SA Maritime AFEZCO, Caliber.Az reports, citing ASCO.

This venture, established on a parity basis and registered in the Alat Free Economic Zone, received approval from the supervisory boards of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and ASCO. The fourth Aframax tanker has been put into operation, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has named the vessel "Khankendi".

The vessel will be managed by ASCO Ship Management AFEZCO, in line with the operation of other Aframax tankers previously put into service.

The tanker was officially commissioned at the Turkish port of Aliaga, with representatives from SOCAR, ASCO, SA Maritime AFEZCO, and the ship's crew in attendance. During the ceremony, national souvenirs were presented to the ship's captain.

The event highlighted the strategic significance of the "Khankendi" tanker, which has unlimited navigation capabilities and will operate beyond the Caspian Sea. Its commissioning is considered a significant development for Azerbaijan's economy and national shipping industry.

The emphasis on forming crews with domestic sailors is a top priority for both the "Khankendi" and other tankers of this type. Azerbaijani seafarers are already part of the crews for these vessels. On the "Khankendi," for instance, third assistant captain Jahangir Yagubov and fourth engineer Teyyub Mammadov are among the Azerbaijani personnel.

The tanker, built using the latest advancements in shipbuilding, has a deadweight of 115,521 tons. It measures 249.95 metres in length, 44 metres in width, 21.20 metres in height, and has a draft of 15.22 metres, with a maximum speed of 16 knots.