Surakhani Tanker-Museum

Surakhani ship-museum — a museum reflecting the development of shipping and the history of maritime traditions in Azerbaijan.

As the world's first tanker museum, this museum provides information about the history of the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan's shipping, and the activities of Azerbaijani seafarers.

History

On March 1, 2021, the "Surakhani" ship-museum was opened in Baku. At the opening of this museum, the first created in the world, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated.

Modern technological equipment has been used in the museum halls. Visitors here become acquainted with the history of the Caspian Sea, oil production in Baku, the development of shipping, ships considered pioneers in the world, sea giants, navigation instruments, maritime knots with a history of nearly 5,000 years, and the equipment used during ship operation.

The "Surakhani" ship-museum is a project created not only for the development of shipping but also for the preservation, research, study, and revitalization of maritime traditions. The selection of the "Surakhani" tanker as part of the museum is also related to it being one of the largest and most modern tankers of its era. Its conversion into a museum utilized the experience of countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Turkey. To meet international standards, the ship-museum cooperated with more than 100 influential foreign and local companies. Thus, as a result of the activity of over 2,000 local ship repairers, this project was created.

Features

The main distinctive feature of the Surakhani ship-museum, setting it apart from other museums in Azerbaijan, is that it is located on a ship. The "Surakhani" tanker stands on a pier on the Baku Boulevard shoreline of the Caspian Sea. Visitors to the museum are welcomed by the captain and chief assistant, who inform them about the crew members and their duties. Modern technological solutions have been applied in the museum halls. One of them allows the independent execution of a turning operation via game manipulators. Additionally, visitors become direct "participants" in what is shown on a 360-degree screen video.

Exhibits

The museum also offers the opportunity to become acquainted with models of three world‑famous sea lighthouses. At the navigation table, visitors can learn about the routes of ships sailing in the Caspian Sea, as well as external communications and navigations. A journey to the past is also possible here. Visitors traveling to the middle of the last century become closely acquainted with the daily work life of the crew working in the ship’s engine department. One of the ship‑museum’s exhibitions is a corner displaying flora and fauna samples collected from oceans and seas.

The ship‑museum also includes the activities of Azerbaijani seafarers during the Second World War and during the events of 20 January 1990. The museum has an interactive book about Heydar Aliyev’s activities in the development of Azerbaijan’s Caspian Sea shipping, and an info‑monitor reflecting projects of President Ilham Aliyev in the field of shipping.

In the park in front of the museum, a sculptural composition dedicated to the memory of Azerbaijani seafarers has been installed. The authors of the work are People's Artists Selhab Mammadov and Ali Ibadullayev, and the architect is Honored Architect Elkhán Asádov. The sculptural composition is presented with a dynamic‑figured wave‑born ship‑fairy. This fairy symbolizes the development of shipping in the Caspian Sea and is also created as the source of energy and an inseparable attribute of the seafarers’ lives.

Operating hours

The museum operates 5 days a week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) from 10:00 to 19:00. Rest days are Monday and Tuesday. The museum tour lasts 90 minutes. At the same time, a maximum of 10 people is allowed to enter the exhibition hall. Admission to a session is conducted within 15 minutes. Ticket prices for entry to the museum range from 2 to 5 manat. Tickets can also be purchased electronically. Physical tickets can be obtained at the ticket‑sale point located in front of the museum.

The cash desk of the Surakhani Ship-Museum stops operating from 18:00.