Azerbaijani ship 'Khojaly' enters Indian Ocean for first time

The Azerbaijani cargo vessel "Khojaly", operated by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), has entered the Indian Ocean for the first time since entering service, ASCO said on Thursday.

In March, the vessel loaded 37,000 tons of soda ash at the port of Portland, USA, and crossed the Pacific Ocean to reach Jakarta, Indonesia, where it partially unloaded. It then proceeded toward the Indian Ocean via the Strait of Malacca, which separates Indonesia and Malaysia.

The ship is now en route to India, where it will offload cargo at the ports of Kattupalli and Kandla.

Commissioned in May 2024, the "Khojaly" was launched to expand ASCO’s cargo operations beyond the Caspian Sea. The vessel has a deadweight of 38,593 tons, with a length of 180 meters, beam of 30 meters, and draft of 10.47 meters. It has a maximum speed of 15.7 knots and is classified for unlimited navigation.