Timing of commissioning of two unique ferries announced

The commissioning of two unique ferries of RoPax type being under construction now at the Baku shipbuilding facility Baku Shipyard LLC has been scheduled for the end of 2019 - beginning of 2020.

The commissioning of two unique ferries of Ro-Pax type being under construction now at the Baku shipbuilding facility Baku Shipyard LLC has been scheduled for the end of 2019 - beginning of 2020.

Baku Shipyard LLC told Trend that the construction of ferries began in mid-March 2017.

“At the moment, the intensive construction of two vessels of RoPax type or railway-car-passenger ferries is underway at the Baku shipbuilding yard. The work on each of them is carried out in accordance with the schedule. At the moment, the construction of the hull of the first vessel is at the final stage and has been completed by 75 percent, the hull construction work on the second vessel has been completed by 50 percent. The commissioning of the two vessels has been scheduled for the end of 2019 - the beginning of 2020,” the company said.

Each of the new ferries of “open” type built as per the design no. CNF18C, is designed for the carriage of 56 railway tanks with gauge width of 1520 mm, trucks (50 semi-trailer trucks), 46 high-sided wagons, 44 freight wagons, including dangerous cargo, as well as 100 passengers, with sternward cargo-handling scheme for wagons and vehicles and with the side doors for loading and unloading of motor vehicles on regular berths.

Construction of the Baku Shipyard LLC, which was jointly implemented by the Azerbaijani Investment Company (AIC), SOCAR and Singapore's Keppel, was completed in the third quarter of 2013. SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) and Singapore's Keppel Offshore & Marine Company have established “Baku Shipyard LLC” joint venture for the construction and operation of the plant. In accordance with the contract signed between the founders on 10 December 2010.

The Keppel company owns 10 percent of the factory’s shares and is fully responsible for its management and operation. SOCAR is the largest shareholder of the enterprise with a share of 65 percent, and it is followed by the AIC, which owns a quarter of the shipyard’s shares.

The shipyard has been designed for the construction of a wide range of specialized and commercial vessels, including multi-purpose naval vessels such as platform supply vessels, as well as tankers and cargo vessels. The conditions for ship repair have also been created at the enterprise.