Iran launches indigenous ocean-going tanker ship

Iran’s first domestically manufactured ocean-going tanker has begun its maiden voyage in the Persian Gulf waters.

The tanker, manufactured by Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex Co. (ISOICO), was launched on Sunday in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

Hamid Rezaeian, managing-director of ISOICO, said at the ceremony that the tanker is 178 meters long, 32 meters wide and 16 meters high, with a nine-meter draft.

He added that the vessel, ordered by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) for USD30 million, is capable of carrying 35,000 tons of oil products.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved significant progress in marine and shipbuilding industries in recent years and has developed several domestic and international projects.

In one of its latest shipbuilding projects, Iran delivered the first Aframax tanker made for the Venezuelan national oil company, PDVSA, in October 2012.

The tanker was one of the four tankers ordered by the Venezuelan company and built by Iran Marine Industrial Company (Sadra).

Aframax ships are oil tankers smaller than 120,000 metric tons deadweight with a breadth of above 32.31 meters.