The next feature in AZERTAC’s “If I Were a Tourist” column is the “Surakhani” tanker-museum. The tanker-museum was opened on March 1, 2021. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of this world-first museum. The museum’s halls are equipped with modern technological devices, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the history of the Caspian Sea, oil production in Absheron, the development of maritime shipping, pioneering ships, maritime giants, navigation tools, ancient maritime knots dating back nearly 5,000 years, and equipment used during ship operations.

The “Surakhani” tanker-museum is a project created to promote the development of maritime traditions, preserve their history, and facilitate their study and continuation. The selection of the “Surakhani” tanker as a museum is tied to its status as one of the largest and most advanced tankers of its era. Experiences from countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Türkiye were utilized in transforming it into a museum. To ensure the tanker-museum meets international standards, collaboration was established with over 100 prestigious foreign and local companies. As a result of the efforts of more than 2,000 local shipbuilders, this project was brought to fruition.