Shiprepair & Maintenance: September 2018
Albwardy Damen – a joint venture between Damen shipyards Group, based in Holland, and Albwardy Investment, Dubai – has added a fourth location to its ship repair business in the Middle East at Sohar Port and Freezone, Oman.
The new facility, located between Muscat and Dubai, will complement existing facilities in Sharjah, Fujairah and Dubai. Sohar is Albwardy Damen’s first location in the Sultanate of Oman, and renders Albwardy Damen “the first ship repair company to have a presence in Oman’s rapidly growing logistics hub,” says sales and marketing director Willem Moelker.
Sohar Port and Freezone has been promoted at the ‘Gateway to the Gulf’. As such, the new facility will allow Albwardy Damen to attract vessels en route to the UAE, Bahraini and Qatari ports. In Moelker’s words: “By establishing this new venture, vessels in Sohar which require repairs and maintenance will be able to get on their way as soon as possible. Our engineers can be on board within hours, reducing mobilisation and repair times dramatically.” The company states that the decision to open the new location was “driven by demand from customers and other stakeholders.”
As with Albwardy Damen’s other locations, Sohar will offer ‘a full range of afloat, workshop, and diving services.’ These will include hull and deck steel repairs, engine overhaul, electrical works, pipework, and hydro-blasting and painting. Diving will be providing by Albwardy Damen Diving, headquartered in Fujairah, which will mobilise dive teams when required. Riding squads are also offered.
Albwardy Damen operates in both the marine and oil and gas markets providing repairs, maintenance and conversions, claiming over 150 drydockings per year. The company also has a small newbuild division constructing both Damen and non-Damen designs up to 120m. OEM representation includes Mitsubishi MET Turbochargers, Yanmar Marine Diesel Engines, and Kawasaki Thrusters.
