News News “Deniz” newspaper E-publications Photo gallery Video gallery 70th Anniversary of CSOF and Upcoming Holidays Were Celebrated on a Ceremony 21.12.2019 10:38 70th anniversary of the Offshore Fleet of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), December 31 – the International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis and the upcoming New Year were celebrated at the solemn ceremony. In the beginning, the participants watched a film dedicated to the Offshore Fleet. The film was about the creation of the Caspian Sea Oil Fleet (CSOF), the heroism of sailors and oil workers, manifested during the first oil production on the open sea in Azerbaijan, and the successes achieved. The Chairman of the ASCO Rauf Valiyev congratulated the participants on the 70th anniversary of the CSOF foundation, as well as on December 31 – International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis and the upcoming new 2020. Rauf Valiyev noted that the past two years have been particularly significant for ASCO. Last year, the 160th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company was celebrated, and this year is marked with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Offshore Fleet. Chairman said that both the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company and the Offshore Fleet play an important role in the marine industry of Azerbaijan. He added that since 2013, by Decree of President Ilham Aliyev, these structures have been merged into a single body, and as a result, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC was established. “Today, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the ASCO Offshore Fleet, the history of which coincides with the period of the creation of Oil Rocks. During the extraction of the first oil on the open sea in Azerbaijan, the role of sailors and fleet ships was significant. In 1949, at the time of the creation of the Offshore Fleet, it included floating facilities with low water compatibility, towing vessels with low traction power, supply and, in small quantities, crane vessels. Currently, the fleet includes more than 200 vessels with high technical characteristics, which provide a wide range of oil and gas production services in the Caspian Sea basin, ” – the chairman said. Rauf Valiyev also noted that the Offshore Fleet and its modernization had always been in the focus of attention of national leader Heydar Aliyev. It is the result of the comprehensive measures carried out by Heydar Aliyev that Azerbaijan currently has a high potential in the shipping industry. It is gratifying that this strategy, which in its significance is considered as a concept of the development and progress of our independent state, is successfully continuing under the leadership of Mr. President Ilham Aliyev. Currently, the Offshore Fleet plays an important role in the implementation of the “Contract of the Century”, authored by our national leader Heydar Aliyev. The transnational projects implemented in Azerbaijan have transformed the Caspian Sea basin into a zone of international cooperation. It opens wide horizons for the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Closed Joint-Stock Company, including the Offshore Oil Fleet. At the end of his speech, Chairman congratulated the whole team on the holidays and the anniversary of the CSOF once again, wished everyone good health and new successes. He also expressed his confidence that all members of the team will achieve higher performance, based on their knowledge, skills and rich experience, and further justify the trust of the head of state Ilham Aliyev in sailors. Then, experienced employees of the Offshore Fleet, as well as veterans, delivered their speeches at the event. They said they were proud of their contribution to the implementation of the oil strategy of Azerbaijan, the foundation of which was laid by the national leader Heydar Aliyev. The event continued with an interesting concert program performed by Azerbaijani artists. The song dedicated to the sailors – “Long live the sailors!”, performed by the national artist Mubariz Tagiyev aroused great enthusiasm among the guests.