Iran Launches First Domestically Made Oil Tanker

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday July 25, 2012

Iran has launched its first domestically-made oil tanker Tuesday, which is also a first for the Middle East according to local media reports.

The reports said the tanker had been built for Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), Venezuela's state oil company and will be delivered by late September.

Salman Zarbi, Managing-Director of Iran Marine Industrial Company (SADRA) said the 113,000 dwt Aframax oil tanker was "250 meters long, 44 meters wide and 21 meters high, and has a 14.8 draft," according to the country's FARS News Agency (FNA).

Reports in the Tehran Times said construction took two years and the vessel was one of four being built, a fact Reuters news agency said "was not clear."

SADRA is currently subject to U.S. sanctions with Washington saying the company is owned by Iranian engineering firm Khatam al-Anbiya, which in turn was controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Zarbi said that despite sanctions against the Islamic Republic, "Iran succeeded in building its first gigantic oil tanker."

Last month, Iran's NITC, formally the state run National Iranian Tanker Company, delayed the delivery of the first of 12 newbuild very large crude carriers (VLCCs) being built at Shanghai Waigaoqiao and Dalian Shipyards.

"The market is not attractive for any ship owner," it said at the time.

Iran has also been widely reported to be using NITC tankers to store oil, with over half of its tankers said to be currently commissioned for that purpose.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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