OREANDA-NEWS. January 24, 2008. It is impossible to carry out construction work or to produce oil and gas in the open sea without specialized ships. Therefore, it is of current importance for SOCAR to repair and modernize the ships within the Caspian Oil Fleet each of which has a specific function. Considering all these factors, the company allocates a large amount of money to modernize the ships, to purchase new equipments, modern electron navigation systems, locators, technical devices and computers. Shipbuilding Plant of the Caspian Oil Fleet was 120 percent in line with the forecast of 2007 and repaired 60 vessels, of which 17 was completely repaired. 10-12 vessels had been expectant of repair more than 10 years and were completely repaired first time during last 17 years.

Ali Amirov geological-exploration ship is among those repaired vessels. The vessel allows divers to work effectively in a depth of 140 meters. In addition, Nefteqaz-10 and Ilgar Polluyev replenishment ships, Aura and Alatau towing ships, Avior diving ship, Atlet, Garachay and Shirvan-2 floating cranes were also repaired during the last year. General Asadov passenger motor ship, which was completely repaired, will soon go on maiden a voyage to Neft Dashlari. The motor ship carries 900 workers from Neft Dashlari and 28 May OGED every day. Halls, buffets and cabins of motor ship were renovated in accordance with universal standards. Vikhr-11 fire fighter ship will set sail soon. The high-speed ocean type ship is able to sail 6 month without break. There are two rescue boats each for 45 people and a closed boat on the board of the ship. The ship will be on guard of Gunashli field.

 There are 7 this type of high speed fire fighter vessels functioning in the Oil Fleet. Vikhr-8 and Vikhr-13 vessels will be renovated in 2008. In total, 54 vessels will be repaired in 2008. One of those vessels will be Suleyman Vazirov pipe laying ship. It should be noted that the vessel was brought to the Caspian Sea in 1973 and it took part in vonstruction of thousands kilometer oil and gas pipelines which led to the termination of oil shipment by tankers. The crane park will also be modernized in 2008. 600-ton Gurban Abbasov sea crane is also to be repaired. This crane carries heavy inventories -drilling devices, pedestals, platforms in Gunashli, Neft Dashlari and other fields. Currently, 600-ton Generall Aliagha Shikhlinski vessel carries out all necessary work. The ship also needs to be repaired due to overload. Gulbala Aliyev, Shirvan, Mikail Kaverochkin, Uluchay floating cranes, as well as Neftegas-30, Neftegas-9, Ogtay Valiyev, Chingiz Mustafayev and Samur replenishment ships will be repaired.