Iran’s Sadra Co. launches 1st Aframax tanker made for Venezuela

An official at Iran Marine Industrial Company (Sadra) says the company has launched the first 113,000-ton Aframax tanker it has made for the Venezuelan national oil company (PDVSA) at the company’s yard in the southern port city of Bushehr.

Salman Zarbi, the managing director of Sadra’s shipbuilding plant, noted that the tanker is 250 meters (m) long, 44 m wide and 21 m high and has been launched in a draft depth of 14.8 m.

The official noted that the tanker will be delivered to the Venezuelan company in three months, adding that preliminary tests on the tanker were carried out on July 23.

“Three months are needed for the remaining tests, but due to high quality of the material used in building the ship, the Venezuelan company has already expressed its satisfaction,” he added.

Zarbi stated that three more tankers are under construction at Sadra’s yard for delivery to Venezuela.

“In view of the good experience we’ve had with the first tanker, I hope the second tanker will be ready in the next 10 months,” he said.

On Sunday, April 22, Managing Director of Sadra Mehdi Etesam said the company will deliver the first oil tanker built for the Venezuelan national oil company in September.

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.

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.