OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2009. The Group reports that Turkish shipbuilding factory Celik Tekne has launched tanker Khankendi fabricated to order of Palmali. This tanker IMO-2 bears name of the central city of Nagorno Garabagh that is under occupation by Armenia.

Palmali continues tradition of naming its vessels with names of heroes, scientists and territories of Azerbaijan for familiarizing the world public with them. The fact that tanker Khankendi was launched five days before the 18-year anniversary of occupation of this territory is not accident as well. Another two being-built tankers to be launched in 2010 will be named Shusha and Khojali.

The newly-launched tanker with deadweight 14,000 tons, length of 142.98 m and width of 21.7 m is to ship chemical products. The ship was fabricated in compliance with international conventions and environmental standards.

The launching ceremony involved Palmali’s first vice president Marif Mansimov and other executives and a large delegation, including reps of Celik Tekne factory.

Palmali is a large shipping company transporting via internal and sea routes of basins of the Mediterranean, Baltic, Caspian and Black Seas. Besides, it is leader on carriages via internal water ways of Russia. Quantity of vessels run by Palmali tops 120.

The Group ships mainly oil products (petrol, gasoline, vacuum gas oil, fuel, and kerosene), oil and petroleum products, and industrial oils. Palmali’s dry-cargo ships transport all types of dry cargo.