The Ro-Pax-type ferry vessel "Zarifa Aliyeva", owned by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), embarked on it its maiden voyage on May 5, Report informs, citing ASCO.
The vessel was launched on April 28 with the participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
In its first voyage ever, the ship is sailing towards the port of Kuryk in Kazakhstan.
The unique ship with 30 permanent crew members is 154.50 meters long, 17.7 meters wide, and 7.5 meters high. At the moment, for its carrying capacity, the vessel is larger than other ferries in the Caspian Sea. The ferry can carry 100 passengers, 56 tanks, or 50 trucks/TIRs.
The ferry vessel is expected to make a significant contribution to expanding transport of transit cargo across the Caspian Sea along the East-West transport corridor.