Iran to deliver first Venezuelan Aframax tanker

Managing director of Iran Marine Industrial Company (Sadra) says the company will deliver the first oil tanker built for the Venezuelan national oil company (PDVSA) in September.

Mehdi Etesam said more than 75 percent of the building process of the Aframax vessel ordered by PDVSA had been completed, Mehr News Agency reported on Sunday.

He added that Sadra has signed a contract with the PDVSA to build four Aframax tankers for the Venezuelan side, each capable of carrying 113,000 tons of crude oil.

Etesam stated that the construction of the tanker has progressed over 75 percent and based on current schedule it will be ready for delivery to Venezuela by late September.

He stressed that the timely delivery of the tankers depends on timely financing.

“Based on the contract signed between the two countries, building every Aframax tanker will cost about USD 52 million,” he said.

On January 7, the official in charge of the project at Sadra announced that the first Iranian-made Aframax tanker with the capacity of 113,000 tons would be launched in September 2012.

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

Tehran and Caracas have signed an array of agreements, pledging to work together in the oil industry, building low-income housing and assembling tractors and bicycles as well as military projects among other ventures.