History of the Caspian Marine Oil Fleet of SOCAR is closely intertwined with the period when the offshore oil industry in Azerbaijan was formed. For example, first steps were undertaken for the offshore extraction of oil on the northern shore of the Pirallahi island in 1904. Some 30 years later, a drilling rig was built on metal supports in the northern water area of the island. The Maritime Transport Department was created in 1944 to perform offshore exploration. The Oil Fleet was created in 1949 in line with the due resolution of the USSR Ministry of Oil Industry. Currently, the vessels of Kaspmornefteflot are widely used during construction of objects, as well as the discovery and operation of offshore oil fields. Since the 1950s the oil fleet has been enlarged with new ships, and a dockyard was created under Kaspmortnefteflot for their technical maintenance.
Today, Kaspmornefteflot is one of the largest oil fleets worldwide and ensures oil and gas production on the continental shelf of the Caspian Sea. In particular, it assists construction of offshore platforms and trestles, conducting geological and geographical exploration of the sea, construction of pipelines, fire protection at oil installations, delivery of oilmen to the workplace, etc.
A new period of development started in oil industry alongside other economic spheres when the national leader, Heydar Aliyev came to power in 1969. New offshore oil and gas fields, including Gunashli, were explored. The large-scale development of offshore oil and gas resources resulted in developing of the oil fleet. Vessels manufactured in Germany, Finland, Norway, Poland, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, France have been purchased since 1981. The ship park of Kaspmornefteflot currently accounts for 210 ships and aquatic vessels.
The signing of an Agreement with major international companies on exploration, development and production sharing for Azeri, Chirag and Gunashli fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea on 20 September 1994 was the key to attraction of major foreign investments to the country. Today, Azerbaijan is economically successful while actively integrating into the world economy and improving the living conditions of its citizens.
New horizons for Kaspmornefteflot were opened with the signing of the Contract of the Century. The agreement was signed on cooperation with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) that allowed the foreign companies to use Azerbaijani vessels in the course of operations in the Caspian Sea.
On the basis of long-term agreements, the KMNF/BUE continues providing services to foreign oil companies that are engaged in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
The vessels of KMNF/BUI alliance including Caspian Protector, Caspian Pride, Caspian Provider, Caspian Power, Caspian Reliance, Caspian Challenger, Caspian Supporter, Caspian Endeavour, Caspian Server, Caspian Gala, Topaz Arrow, Topaz Glory, Topaz Legend, Topaz Dignity, Topaz Triumph, Bakı, Castle, Fortress, Citadel, Ishim, Heather, Mehran DMS 2000, Total participated in various projects of BP, McDermott Caspian Contractors, Inc and SAIPEM in 2013.
The KMNF vessels Nefteqaz 8”, Nerça, İrgiz, Andoqa were involved in long-term and short-term operations in the Russian, Turkmen and Kazakh sectors of the Caspian Sea on the basis of the alliance agreement signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Caspian Marine Services Limited on 3 May 2007. The barges TMI-2, TMI-6, STB-1, as well as vessels Barja-120, Q.Abbasov, İ.Huseynov, Akademik Tofiq İsmayilov, Azerbaycan, Nefteqaz-62, Om, V.Seyidov, Andoga also took part in various projects in the Caspian Azeri sector.
The crane vessel ‘Azerbaijan’, barge STB-1 and Barja-120 at the order of Saipem Asia in 2012-2013, as well as barges TMI-2, TMI-6, vessels I.Huseynov, Akademik Tofiq Ismayilov were involved in Chiraq-2 project by McDermott.
Vessel Q.Abbasov was used in crane operations at the order of structural units of SOCAR and foreign companies operating in Azerbaijan.
The agreement ‘Marine transport services’ with Bahar Energy Operating Company Ltd was prolonged. As part of the agreement, the vessels Andoqa, Orion, General A.Şıxlinskı, Nefteqaz, Şirvan, Qaradağ provide marine transport services. They also ensure underwater technical and rescue services on Bahar and Qum-Deniz fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
Currently, the ships mainly undergo technical maintenance at the dockyard. Small ships and ferry-boats are repaired at the workshops of the Kaspmornefteflot structural units. 95 ships were repaired within 2012. Forecasts on cargo transportations were surpassed in the same period. Thus, 605,169 tons of cargo was transported instead of the scheduled 600,000 tons. 35 vessels underwent repair within seven months of 2013.
After repair every new ship of Kaspmornefteflot is provided with modern equipment on electric navigation, rescue works and other devices complying with all requirements of the International Marine Organization and Marine Shipping Registry.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev instructed the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan to shift to international standards in activity. Here, it is necessary to single out the steps taken to introduce international ISO standards in SOCAR units, including Kaspmornefteflot. Thus, the certificate of compliance with ISO 4001 (Environmental management), ISO 9001 (Quality management) and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety) was received in 2007.
Ensuring safe operation of vessels and training of necessary staff have also been under focus of Kaspmornefteflot. Every employee of the structure, depending on the occupied position, has been trained and obtained due education. On behalf of Kaspmornefteflot, we would like to congratulate the whole staff of SOCAR on the occasion of the Day of Oilmen marked on 20 September and wish them new success and family welfare.
