News of our company

On 1 March 2021, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev opened the unique "Surakhani" Project HS01 vessel-museum on the seafront of Baku.
 
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony.
 
A video report of the opening ceremony can be viewed by clicking on the link - Opening of the "Surakhani" tanker-museum.
 
The HS01 tanker museum was designed by the Naval Engineering Bureau and the Caspian Marine Engineering Bureau.
 
A video review of the vessel-museum posted on the official channel of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company can be viewed by clicking on the link - "Surakhani" tanker-museum.
 
According to the website of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, "in Azerbaijan the new period of development of shipping, which has ancient traditions, is associated with the name of national leader Heydar Aliyev and his worthy successor, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. It was the purposeful policy of the national leader carried out after his appointment as a leader of Azerbaijan in July, 1969, that promoted the formation and development of ASCO - Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, as a shipping company. This policy continues successfully today.
 
Along with development of shipping in our country great attention is paid to preservation of seafaring traditions, as well as research and study of its history. In recent years a number of projects in this field have been implemented at Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ACSO). Local and foreign archives have been researched, and important work has been done to preserve and pass on the valuable documents and exhibits obtained to future generations.
 
In 2018, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company celebrated its 160^th anniversary. As part of the celebration of the 160^th anniversary of the Shipping Company, which is one of the oldest companies in our country with a glorious past, scientific books were written and documentary films were made on the basis of historical research.
 
And the creation, with the support of the Head of State Mr. Ilham Aliyev, of the "Surakhani" vessel Museum - the world's first tanker museum, combining the past, present and future of seafaring with ancient history - is one of the next significant steps in this field.
 
It is no coincidence that the "Surakhani" tanker was chosen to create the museum. It was one of the largest and most modern tankers of its time. Wandering the waters of the Caspian Sea, the "Surakhani" played an important role in the history of Azerbaijan's oil transportation by sea, which began with the world's first tanker - the Zoroaster. The tanker 'Surakhany' with the length of 123.5 m and the deadweight of 4696 tons belongs to the type of vessel 'Engineer A.Pustoshkin' that was first launched in the Caspian Sea in 1957. The decision to turn the tanker "Surakhani", which until recently had been used as the Shipping Company's oil refinery, into a museum was made in 2017.
 
In order to turn the tanker into a museum, the vessel was overhauled and reconstruction work was carried out. For this purpose, the human and technical resources of ASCO Shipyard Bibi-Eybat and Khazar Ltd were mobilised. More than 2.000 vessel repairers were involved in the repair and reconstruction of the hull and other parts of the vessel.
 
The experience of countries such as the UK, the Netherlands and Turkey with an ancient shipping tradition was also drawn upon. In order to ensure that the vessel-museum meets international standards, cooperation was built with more than 100 influential foreign and local companies. The concept and design of the project was provided by the British company Freeman XP. Having implemented many successful projects, this company has 90 years of experience in this field. The design was developed by the Dutch company Hypsos, which is renowned for its expertise in designing world-famous museums, science centres and pavilions of various themes.
 
Using state-of-the-art technological equipment, various innovative solutions have been applied to the halls. In the museum visitors can learn more about the history of the Caspian Sea, oil production in Absheron, the development of shipping, vessel s considered to be among the first in the world, maritime giants, navigation aids that are essential attributes of navigation, maritime hubs with a history of about 5000 years, and equipment used in vessel operation.
 
The journey around the world's only tanker museum begins in the reception hall. Here visitors are greeted by the captain and his chief mate, who explain the vessel's crew and their duties. This room also features exhibits that give an insight into the safety and rescue equipment on the vessels.
 
The Mooring and Anchoring Operations Hall is located on the level below the main deck. This room provides information on the role of the anchor gear and chain on the vessel and the principles of mooring. You can also use the special gaming arm located in this room to moor a vessel yourself. Here visitors can also learn about nautical knots and try tying a knot on the ropes.
 
The two-part 'Spirit of the Caspian' hall reflects the history of the Caspian Sea and the entire Caspian Sea, which began a million years ago and continues to the present day. At the same time, the hall features many interesting exhibits relating to the pearl of world history, Gobustan, and confirming the ancient traditions of seafaring in our country.
 
And for the first time in Azerbaijan, a unique 360-degree screen gives visitors the opportunity to become direct 'participants' in the video being shown. In this way, visitors can learn about the ancient and contemporary history of the Land of Fires in an unusual format. And when leaving the video room, visitors can touch unique exhibits relating to 18th- and 20th-century shipping.
 
In the vessel s and Navigation Hall, a 5-metre-long model of the "Surakhani" tanker is on display, reflecting the vessel down to the smallest detail. There is also information on vessel s of this type. In the hall you can also watch a video about the creation of the vessel -museum, as well as showing unusual footage, which depicts all the moments of the large-scale repair and restoration work. In addition, models of the largest vessel s in the world are on display.
 
Visiting the Navigation and Communication Hall, visitors can get acquainted with various preserved exhibits that were used in navigation in ancient times and the Middle Ages, as well as three lighthouse models known around the world. Through a special interaction, visitors will have the opportunity to send information using Morse code. At the navigation table created for the "Surakhani" vessel-museum, visitors will be able to learn about the routes, external communications and navigation of vessel s sailing in the Caspian Sea. In addition, a special interactive 'Flag' has been created in the hall to help the general audience easily learn the signal flags and their functions.
 
In the Cargo Hall, you can learn about the purpose of cargo vessel s and the peculiarities of container transport. The model located here allows you to perform loading and unloading operations and get acquainted with one of the world's largest container vessel s, the OOCL Hong Kong. There are also models of the modern port of Alyat and the Baku Shipyard. The Oil Wall booth showcases the history of Caspian oil. And by playing an interactive game, visitors learn about the different ways of doing loading and unloading work.
 
In the hall 'Solidarity in Values, Commitment to Development' guests will take a journey into the 160-year glorious and rich history of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company.
 
In this hall of the museum, a chronicle of the heroism of Azerbaijani sailors during the Great Patriotic War and the events of January 20, 1990 is displayed. And an interactive book presented here reflects the invaluable services rendered by national leader Heydar Aliyev in the development of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company. In addition, visitors can familiarize themselves with a board reflecting the unbreakable ties between the Shipping Company, which is a national treasure, and the state, and an info-monitor reflecting large-scale projects carried out by President Ilham Aliyev in the field of shipping.
 
The engine room shows the 'heart' of the vessel - the main engine - as well as the auxiliary engine, pumps, in short, the devices that propel the vessel. These exhibits are presented as they looked many years ago. Here, wearing BP (virtual reality) goggles, visitors can travel back to the middle of the last century and experience the everyday working life of the crew working in the engine room.
 
In the Sailors' Gallery, guests can see legendary sailors, reconstructed crew quarters and the "Surakhani" galley, which look exactly as they did in the 1960s. You can also see household appliances and items that were used on the tanker "Surakhani".
 
The captain's bridge, the radio room, which are important posts for steering the "Surakhani" vessel, have also been reconstructed to their original state. In this part of the museum, it is possible to see the tanker's control devices and all the equipment dating back to the middle of the 20^th century.
 
One of the interesting displays in the Tanker Museum is a corner where malacofauna, corals and other specimens of flora and fauna are on display. The collection, collected from the oceans and seas, will be of great interest to visitors.
 
The museum also has a restaurant where you can sample both national and seafood dishes.
 
The opening of the world's first tanker museum in Baku will give local residents and a growing number of tourists a chance to learn the history of the Caspian Sea and shipping in our country and the heroic work of our brave sailors. "Surakhani" Tanker Museum will play a role of a bridge between the past and future of Azerbaijan's steam vessel line with its ancient seafaring traditions. At the same time, this museum will become one of the new symbols of our capital Baku, which combines historicity and modernity.
 
The HS01 project museum vessel is designed to house museum exhibits and be used as a floating restaurant.
 
The vessel houses museum exhibits in six cargo and dry bulk compartments.
 
Equipment and furnishings restored in the cargo pump room, engine room, boiler room, tiller room, red corner, mess room, crew mess with mess room, galley, cabins of captain, first mate, second mate, third mate, radio operator, wheelhouse, navigation room, radio room and radio storeroom.
 
Authentic anchor and mooring gear, lifeboats and other deck equipment have been restored.
 
The main characteristics of the HS01 project museum vessel:
 
Maximum length - 123.50 m;
Width - 16.00 m;
Board height - 5.50 m;
Maximum permitted number of persons on board - 150 persons;
Restaurant, area/passenger capacity - 167 m² / 68 persons;
Cafe, area/passenger capacity - 250 m² / 84 persons.
 
The HS01 Project Vessel-Museum "Surakhani" stands on the promenade in the new part of Baku Boulevard, near the Aquatics Palace.