Major Contracts Signed at Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013

Within moments of the event opening, four significant contracts were announced at Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013, the leading regional forum for owners, operators, industry professionals and suppliers, which opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and runs through until Wednesday 2 October.

The first deal was signed shortly after Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman ADPC had inaugurated the show and involved marine services company, Smit Lamnalco and Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Company, IRSHAD.

Under the terms of the contract, Smit Lamnalco’s DP2 AHTS vessel -the SL Labuan – has been contracted to carry out maintenance activities for two years at three Single Point Mooring (SPM) crude oil terminals in Fujairah.

Khalifa Al Qubaisi, General Manager of IRSHAD said: “The vessel has DP2 capabilities and sufficient deck area which makes the SL Labuan ideally suited for such operations, which also involves Saturation Diving activities.”

In the second deal of the morning, Damen Shipyards Sharjah and Singapore-headquartered Miclyn Express Offshore, a leading provider of service vessels to the offshore oil and gas industry, signed a repair frame agreement. The newly constructed, state-of-the-art Damen Shipyard Sharjah, has now started its dry-docking operations and has docked more than 50 vessels during 2013.

The shipyard has 1,500 metres of quay-side a synchro-lift with a lifting capacity of 5200 tonnes and is connected to 8 dry-berths, each 120 metres in length with an additional 7,000 square metres of fully equipped workshops.

The Netherlands-headquartered Damen Shipyards Group also signed an agreement with Saudi-based Bin Nowiran for Trading & Contracting (BINCO). The contract for a total of seven vessels (five different ship types), will be operated by BINCO in Kuwait to serve SPM operations for Saudi Arabian Chevron’s marine export facility at Mina Saud.

Eng. Khaled A. Bin Nowiran, managing director of BINCO, said, “With these new vessels, which combine cutting-edge design with state-of-the-art technology, it will enable us to strengthen our fleet and service offering for Saudi Arabian Chevron, Khafji Joint Operations and other key business partners.”

In what was an exceptionally busy morning on the show floor, Elcome International was also named as an official sales and services partner of PSM Instrumentation in the Middle East.

“PSM’s wide range of innovative tank level monitoring and supervision systems for ballast, cargo, service and bunker fuel oil tanks will enable Elcome to offer a complete tank level gauging solution that complies with international safety (SOLAS) and environmental (MARPOL) regulations,” said Jimmy Grewal, executive director for Elcome International.

“These announcements clearly demonstrate the vibrancy in the regional offshore industry, which is witnessing incredible change across all areas of operation, led by environmental, health and safety regulations as well as bottom line considerations of course,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman, Seatrade.

Over at the show conference, delegates were heartened by upbeat presentations regarding regional fleet expansions and improving business sentiment, during the opening session entitled “Industry Outlook through to 2020,” which was attended by a panel of senior industry leaders, led by David Lyons, Founding Partner & President, Capital Partners Worldwide.

Middle East Work Boats & Offshore Marine 2013 features over 225 exhibiting companies, a 9% increase in terms of floor space. With the inclusion of the offshore marine sector in the event, participants will also see offshore support vessels, yards, operators, owners and suppliers represented.

New this year is the “Global Workboat Technology Forum” held in strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco on October 1, which will highlight the latest sector innovations through a series of technical papers.

Press Release, October 01, 2013