Monday 12 May 08 - 23:57
 

Vessel Repair & Maintenance

At Capacity ASRY Targets Workboats

Following the successes of the last financial year, the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) is again showing that the demand for its' facilities is still running at record highs.
The commissioning of two new slipways this summer will create space for ASRY to take on the repair of more 30m to 80m workboats.
The commissioning of two new slipways this summer will create space for ASRY to take on the repair of more 30m to 80m workboats.

It has an enviable position in Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf, with local support making around 40% of the dockings as well as having a strong international presence. This, coupled with the other sectors' needs, has kept ASRY running at capacity for quite some time.

However, although the contracts already placed look like keeping ASRY busy well into the third quarter of 2008, the demand for dock space will be eased by July when new twin slipways are scheduled to become operational. Each of these will have a dry berth length of 255m, a capacity of 5,000 tons, and will be ideal for accommodating offshore service boats, tugs and supply boats. Targeting vessels of the 30m to 80m length, the slipways will enable ASRY to free about 20% of the capacity of it's existing larger docks, enabling the company to expand its ability to receive heavier vessels.

With continual expansion taking place around the coastlines of various countries in the region, the demand for repairs to dredgers has been constant. Dredgers in particular are the workhorses of the sea. They have a very rough life and continually need attention. ASRY has established a name for repairing these complex floating factories and has undertaken work on 19 such vessels in the last year. Works have been completed on dredgers as diverse as the American trailing suction hopper dredger Victoria Island, which needed multiple repairs, to Bahrain's cutter suction dredger Hafeet,  which was sent in for survey, cleaning, painting and welding repairs. Another European boat, Boskalis' Coastwa,y visited ASRY for structural work and the mounting of new deck equipment.

In the last year ASRY has also consolidated its services and operations in the offshore rig markets, being awarded a number of major contracts for oil rigs, heavy lift crane barges and supply vessels. In all, six rigs were repaired during the year. ASRY also took on repairs to ten supply boats, diving support vessels, seismic survey vessels and anchor handlers.

In total there were 145 vessels repaired last year, ranging from ULCCs through to a large number of offshore rigs and other vessels, making a turnover of around £82m from repairs alone.

Images for this article - click to enlarge

The commissioning of two new slipways this summer will create space for ASRY to take on the repair of more 30m to 80m workboats.

All images copyright © Mercator Media 2008

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