Iran launches ocean-going oil tanker

Iran's domestically-manufactured ocean-going oil tanker was launched Sunday in the Persian Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas, Press TV reported. Hamid Rezaeian, managing-director of Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex Co. (ISOICO), said at the ceremony that the tanker is 178 meters long, 32 meters wide and 16 meters high, with a 9-meter draft, according to the report. The vessel, manufactured by the ISOICO at the cost of 30 million U.S. dollars, is capable of carrying 35,000 tons of oil products, Rezaeian was quoted as saying. In June 2012, Iran launched its first domestically-built oil tanker, one of the four oil tankers to be built for the Venezuelan state oil company (PDVSA). The Aframax, which cost some 52 million dollars, was capable of carrying 75,000 barrels of oil. The construction of the Aframax was the first export of Iran regarding shipbuilding activity and Iran would continue to attract more customers, said Salman Zarbi, managing director of Iranian Marine Industrial Company (SADRA), which built the tanker.