Strong demand from offshore customers is helping maintain high levels of utilisation at the company’s yards in Sharjah and Dubai
UAE-based shipyard operator Albwardy Damen reports that its repair teams have been running at full capacity throughout 2023. This follows a very busy 2022 for the company. High oil prices have led to high levels of demand for work to offshore supply vessels (OSVs) and anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) craft. The commercial cargo vessel and yacht segments are also doing well, the result of the ongoing healthy business environment in the Middle East.
Most of the repair projects handled this year have been fairly standard. However, as one exception to that trend the company is currently undertaking a major modification to an OSV by adding a moon pool. This will expand the vessel’s ability to carry out subsea soil sampling and seabed testing, among other things. Its Sharjah yard has also recently completed the conversion of two single hull tankers to double hull for Saudi Arabia-based International Bunkering Company.
Albwardy Damen’s mechanical and specialised services department has performed particularly positively so far in 2023. Managing director Lars Seistrup says: “We have been on a bit of a journey to expand our mechanical capabilities and associated manpower and we are now seeing the results. We also represent a number of globally recognised manufacturers, and the specialised services division is expanding its ability to deliver parts and services to customers of these principals in the region.”
Last year Albwardy Damen was awarded a contract to represent Niigata Power Systems in the region, covering both marine engines and thrusters. The company says it has been able to support the new client well, with a dedicated team delivering high levels of support to customers in the Middle East.
While the biggest Albwardy Damen yard is in Sharjah, it also has an operation in Dubai which has been growing rapidly. As a result, the company has recently responded to demand by opening another workshop in Dubai Maritime City, as it was rapidly outgrowing existing facilities that were originally opened in 2018. Seistrup says: “The growth in Dubai is predominantly in more complex mechanical repair projects. Consequently the extra workshop will be mainly used to offer services such as engine overhauls, parts reconditioning, hydraulic repairs, electrical and control engineering and fuel pump/injector testing.”
The company is also investing to reduce its environmental impact, in line with UAE governmental aspirations in this context, which are exemplified by the fact that Dubai is hosting the COP28 Climate Change conference later this year. Most notably, Albwardy Damen is planning to install solar panels on its Dubai workshop facilities in the near future, a move it says makes both business and environmental sense.
Alongside its shiprepair activities, Albwardy Damen has a busy newbuilding operation which has a healthy order book. Recent deliveries have included the multipurpose offshore support vessel Zwerver V to Van See Offshore and a Damen Multi-Cat, Snipe, to DMS.
