UAE: Topaz Marine Bags Ferry Contract for Sharjah Government

Renaissance subsidiary, Topaz Marine Engineering (Topaz), a UAE-based full service shipbuilding, ship repair and engineering services company, confirms that it has been commissioned by the Government of Sharjah’s Royal Court (Al Diwan Al Amiri) to build and deliver one Catamaran passenger ferry boat.

With a focus on passenger luxury and efficiency, the Catamaran will be designed to accommodate 40 people, with passengers all seated on the main deck. It will be used to transport people between mainland Sharjah and the Abu Musa Island, situated 70 kilometres offshore. The ferry will be built at Topaz’s Nicocraft Shipyard in Abu Dhabi and is scheduled for delivery in January 2013.

Thomas Bower, Managing Director of Topaz Marine Engineering, commented: “Ferry boats are becoming increasingly common across the Gulf countries and Topaz is responding to this demand by working to worldwide standards and developing new designs which offer the very best in luxury, high speed, manoeuvrability and excellent sea keeping characteristics to make this kind of transportation more safe and comfortable. Securing this contract comes as testament to our competitive advantage and we look forward to winning more as we continue to expand our services in this growing niche market.”

Topaz Marine Engineering has had an excellent start to the year. It has recently delivered two 18 metre Catamaran ferry boats to a client in the UK and completed the delivery of two wind farm support vessels (WFSV) to ASP Work Boats Ltd. Topaz is also completing the delivery of two Anchor Handling Supply (AHTS) vessels, Topaz Dignity and Topaz Triumph on behalf of BP, which are due to be deployed in the Caspian Sea on long-term contracts. Furthermore, Topaz was awarded a contract from GAC Group to provide completion services for two crew/cargo vessels.

Topaz Marine Engineering and its sister company, Topaz Oil and Gas Engineering, covers fabrication and construction; maintenance services; shipbuilding and marine repair for the offshore support vessel and engineering services. The companies are part of Topaz Energy and Marine, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renaissance Services, a Muscat-based oilfield services company and are both regional leaders in undertaking turnkey engineering, procurement and construction projects with over 35 years of experience operating in MENA and more recently in the Caspian.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, June 25, 2012; Image: topazworld