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On December 9, 2020, the lead passenger rail-car ferry for the Caspian Sea project CNF18C "Azerbaijan" went on sea trials.
 
The builder is Baku Shipyard.
 
The CNF18C is designed by the Marine Engineering Bureau.
 
The new "open" type ferry of CNF18C project is designed to carry 100 passengers, 56 cars with a rail width of 1520 mm, trucks (50 car loads) including dangerous goods, with a stern-type cargo scheme for wagons and cars and with a board ramp for loading-unloading of vehicles at ordinary berths.
 
The CNF18C project vessel carries dangerous goods on the open top deck in accordance with the provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) and the national Maritime Dangerous Goods Regulations (MADR Regulations).
 
The advantages of the new CNF18C project ferry over existing ferries:
 
• total capacity by rail wagons of T-1 dimension with a length of 12020 mm between couplers - 56 wagons (the existing ones have no more than 54 wagons);
• the rails are pushed into the deck;
• an open cargo deck speeds up and facilitates loading and unloading and has a positive impact on navigational safety;
• the on-board ramp for loading and unloading trucks on berths allows you to work not only on conventional railroad piers, but also on regular dry cargo berths of sufficient length;
• the hold height (5.400 mm) allows taller wagons to be transported in the hold (existing ferries have a hold height of 5.000 mm);
• lift length of 25000 mm allows loading/unloading of trains and rolling cargo with total tonnage of 188 t from main deck to lower deck on two tracks including platforms type 11-935A with length of 19620 mm and 3 20-foot containers (on existing ferries lift length is 14540 mm, tonnage 170 t);
• the vessel has room for the accommodation and transportation of 100 passengers. Carriage of passengers at the same time as the carriage of dangerous goods is provided in accordance with the conditions of carriage of dangerous goods.
 
Overall, the CNF18C project vessel is a passenger car-railway ferry with bulbous bow and transom stern, with excess freeboard, forward accommodation superstructure, aft engine room, twin-screw diesel propulsion, stern and bow thrusters and two cargo decks.
 
Cargo-carrying capacity of the vessel on T-1 dimension rail cars with length between couplers 12020 mm (4 axles) - 56 units; with length between couplers 13920 mm (4 axles) - 46 cars; with length between couplers 14730 mm (4 axles) - 44 cars. The length of the rail tracks is 688 m.
 
Cargo capacity of the vessel by semi-trailer trucks with a length of 12-13.5 m is 50 carloads. Linear metres - 900 metres.
 
The upper deck is designed to carry rail tankers and wagons weighing up to 94 tonnes on all tracks.
 
Allowed wheel load per axle: 4 wheels per axle - 12 tonnes; 2 wheels per axle - 10 tonnes.
 
For loading/unloading trains and rolling cargo from the main deck to the lower deck, there is a double track cargo lift with a capacity of 188 t and a length of 25 m.
 
There are 2 superior double cabins with bathroom and 24 double (convertible to quadruple) cabins with bathroom to accommodate passengers. There is a duty-free shop, internet-cafe; a room with gaming machines and a bar; a restaurant for passengers (50 seats); a smoking room; in the passenger compartment there are devices for installing hanging cradles (3 pcs.); medical premises (medical block) comprising: a doctor's office combined with an outpatient clinic; a hospital for one seat; an isolator for one seat.
 
Sailing range of about 2500 miles. Fuel and oil autonomy (under sailing mode): 10 days. Water and provisions autonomy - 5 days.
 
The power plant consists of:
 
• the main unit, consisting of two diesel engines with a maximum continuous output of 2.600 kW at 1.000 min-1 each, operating via reversing gears for 2 fixed pitch propellers (left and right-hand rotation);
• an auxiliary unit consisting of four diesel generators with an electrical capacity of 300 kW each, and an emergency diesel generator with an electrical capacity of 300 kW.
 
During the tests, the vessel, using 85% of its propulsion power, reached a speed of 14.7 knots (with a contractual speed of 14.0 knots).
 
The fuels used are: IFO380 heavy fuel with a viscosity of 380 cSt at 50°C for main engines and boiler; MDO diesel with a flash point above 60°C for diesel generators and emergency diesel generators.
 
In order to improve controllability at slow speeds, when passing narrow passages and when mooring, the vessel is equipped with a propeller-in-tube type propeller with fixed pitch propeller (FPP) fore and aft. The PU inlet power is 350 kW and the propeller diameter is 1090 mm.
 
The vessel is provided with 2 marine evacuation systems (MES) with enclosed life rafts and an evacuation hose to lower into the rafts (1 from each side). Evacuation capacity up to 582 persons in 30 minutes.
 
The keel of the lead vessel of the CNF18C project "Azerbaijan" (building number 108) was laid down on 9 December 2017. Launched on 13 December 2019.
The keel of the second vessel "Akademik Zarifa Aliyieva" (building number 109) was laid down on 4 March 2018.