Baku, July 18 (AZERTAC). A new shipyard has been inaugurated at the base of the Coast Guard of the State Border Service in Turkan, Baku.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony.

The creation of the State Border Service under national leader Heydar Aliyev’s decree dated 2002 and granting it the status of a central executive authority marked a qualitatively new stage in the activity of the Azerbaijani border troops. This paves the way for the creating top-level border security in the country.

The material and technical infrastructure of the State Border Service has been strengthened due to the attention of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. The head of state has always paid attention to the implementation of comprehensive measures to bring border service and the activity of border troops into line with modern standards. All necessary measures are being taken to ensure the protection of borders at sea, in the air and on the ground. Important steps are also taken to improve the service and combat conditions of border troops, enhance their professional skill and mobilize combat capabilities.

The inauguration two years ago of a new base of the Coast Guard of the State Border Service with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev points to the size of the work done. This base plays a key role in strengthening of control in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea and protecting the sea borders, oil and gas fields, platforms and subsea pipelines.

Chief of the State Border Service, Commander of the Border Troops Lt-Gen Elchin Guliyev reported to President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

The Commander-in-Chief was informed that the shipyard occupied a total area of 13,000 square meters.

The head of state reviewed the master plan and model of the shipyard and examined the equipment used in ship-building.

Necessary measures are being taken under “Maritime security strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan” approved by the presidential order dated 11 September 2013 to fulfill the tasks assigned to the State Border Service, including the strengthening of resources in state border protection areas in the Caspian Sea.

Then President Ilham Aliyev watched a promotion video highlighting major tactical and technical features of new vessels.

It was noted that the construction of two 3rd-degree high-speed border patrol vessels with sailing capabilities for the Border Service’s Coast Guard was completed at the shipyard. The patrol vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art navigation, communications and radio engineering devices. Capable of fulfilling operations in difficult sailing conditions in the Caspian Sea, the vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry. The construction of a new 2nd-degree patrol vessel has already started at the facility, which now employs nearly 100 specialists.

President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev watched maneuvers of a border patrol vessel in the sea.

It was said that the new vessels would be widely used for the protection of state borders in the Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea, ensuring the coastal regime and security of the infrastructure for producing and transporting hydrocarbon resources. The shipyard will allow to completely renew border patrol vessels of the Coast Guard of the State Border Service, which will considerably increase the country’s capability to protect state interests in border waters.

The Azerbaijani border troops will continue showing high professionalism in protecting the country’s territorial integrity and ensuring security of our borders.

The strategy towards inviolability of state borders pursued by the State Border Service is evidence that national border troops always stand vigil to protect the state border of the motherland.