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Dredging International Confirms Al Raha Contract Extension
01 Dec 2006
The Belgian operator Dredging International (DI) has obtained a contract extension for the Al Raha Beach development in Abu Dhabi, effectively more than doubling the initial scope of a major reclamation project started nine months ago to a total value of €110m. The supplementary contract value is estimated at €78m and will secure business for yet another 14 months.
The aim of the Al Raha Beach project is to create a new waterfront land area of some 450 hectares, a prime location on which real estate developers anticipate the construction of hotel resorts, shopping arcades, water recreation facilities, waterside promenades and marinas, exclusive villas, apartments and office space for a projected 120,000 residents. The 9km long stretch of new waterfront, with islands, is to be located close to the international airport.
After worldwide competition for which eight contractors tendered, Dredging International was awarded the first phase involving a dredging and reclamation contract for 10m m³. The work started in March 2006, is now 90% complete and well ahead of schedule. The second phase at Al Raha Beach calls for another 15m m³ of reclamation, which more than doubles the initial scope of the contract. The client is Aldar Properties, a publicly listed real estate developer in which the state of Abu Dhabi has a 30% stake.
The Al Raha Beach contract is being executed by Qatar Dredging Company (QDC), which is a joint venture company of Dredging International with United Development Company (UDC) and the state of Qatar. Dredging under the contract extension has already started, with the recent arrival of Vlaanderen 20, a trailing suction hopper dredger which will remain on station until the end of next year.
The vessel joins QDC’s heavy duty cutter suction dredger Al Mahaar and smaller plant. The sailing distance from the borrow area to the reclamation site (western precincts of the development) is at an economically short distance ranging from 2km out to about 5km.
By DAVID FOXWELL
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