OREANDA-NEWS. August 24, 2009. The Sumbar tanker built at the request of Turkmenistan by the Krasnoe Sormovo dockyard in Nizhny Novgorod (Russian Federation) moored in the harbour of Turkmenbashi seaport. The ceremony that brought together the high-ranking officials of the town khyakimliks, Turkmendenizderyayollary Department, seaport workers, members of the public organisations, the elders and local people took place at the seaport on occasion of arrival of the new vessel.

A priority of the national policy pursued by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is development of transport infrastructure including merchant marine. An important step was the adoption of the Trade Navigation Code that came into effect on January 1, 2009 and laid the legal foundation for the activities in the field. To ensure the fulfillment of the designated tasks the President issued the Resolution authorizing Turkmendenizderyayollary Department to conclude the contract for building two river-sea tankers with the boat load of 7, 000 tons to transport oil and oil products with one of the oldest shipyards in the Russian Federation Krasnoe Sormovo. The US\\$ 31 million worth project is funded out of the credit provided by the Islamic Development Bank.

By tradition the heartfelt welcome was extended to the ship’s crew. The blessing ritual was performed on occasion of the successful arrival of Sumar tanker to the port of registration.

Captain D. Khojamyradov said that the crew was proud of the honour to be the embers of the crew of the supermodern tanker that would furrow the vast expanses of the Caspian Sea under the banner of Turkmenistan.

The Sumbar tanker is the first large-capacity vessel in the fleet of Turkmenistan that will transport 6 kinds of oil products. It is equipped with state-of-the-art mechanisms and equipment that meet the environmental requirements.

Within the next few months the Khazar supermodern tanker will moor in the harbour of the Turkmenbashi seaport. Thus, by the end of this year two new large-capacity vessels will replenish the marine fleet of Turkmenistan that will extend the geography of overseas voyages of the Turkmen vessels and promote strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation in the Caspian region.