Turkmenistan, with its extensive Caspian coastline, is opening a new chapter in the history of national shipbuilding. The 'Balkan' Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Yard ('Avaza' NTZ) launched its first domestic dry cargo ship, the 'Gadamly'.

The vessel, built for the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan, was a labor-intensive tribute to the 30th anniversary of the country's permanent neutrality.

The 'Gadamly', with a deadweight of 6,100 tons and a length of 123 meters, fully complies with international technical and operational standards. According to Eziz Matdyyev, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Balkan Shipyard, the vessel is capable of carrying up to 240 cargo containers and operating autonomously for up to four days. It is equipped with modern navigation and high-tech equipment and its crew consists of 14 highly qualified specialists.

'This modern, powerful dry cargo ship opens a new page in the history of domestic shipbuilding, which our ancestors pioneered', noted Orazgeldi Gurbannyyazov, a teacher from the Balkan velayat, recalling ancient Turkmen floating craft such as the taymyl and dommal, as well as the legendary voyage of fishermen on taymuns from Krasnovodsk to Moscow in 1936.

The launch of the 'Gadamly' symbolizes the successful implementation of the state policy to create a modern maritime merchant fleet, which has already been expanded with new tankers, ferries and passenger vessels.

Commissioning work on the 'Gadamly' is currently being completed at the Balkan shipyard. At the same time, construction of a second similar dry cargo vessel with a capacity of 6,100 tons is ongoing in collaboration with the South Korean company 'Koryo Shipbuilding Industry Technology Co., Ltd'.

The first national dry cargo vessel, 'Gadamly', is named the 'Friendship Ship', symbolizing Turkmenistan's national progress and international cooperation.