Shipyards
An artist’s impression of IMI yard in Saudi Arabia
Commercial operations well under way at Saudi Arabia’s IMI The recent completion of a significant jackup rig maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract by Saudi Arabia’s International Maritime Industries (IMI) marks the first major rig repair project to have been undertaken by the company. IMI is described as the anchor facility within the vast new King Salman Global Maritime Industries Complex and construction at the 11 km2 complexis still in progress, according to Julian Panter, the company’s Vice President of Business Development. This first rig upgrade project, therefore, was undertaken at nearby Dammam Shipyard, owned by Saudi group, Al Blagha. Completed safely and on time, the ARO Drilling-owned SAR201 left the Damman Shipyard towards the end of March. Co-operation on the project followed the signing of a Master Services Agreement between IMI and the shipyard, a formula that IMI hopes to use again, Panter said. Zone D, designated for rig construction and with a large dock measuring 490 m by 90 m, is likely to open within the next 12 months, he revealed. Three other zones will be completed and commissioned at the vast facility later in 2021 and during 2022. These have been
purpose-designed for rig and ship maintenance and repair, shipbuilding and the construction of offshore support vessels. When fully operational, the King Salman Complex at Ras Al Khair, about 60 kms north of Jubail on Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, will be unique. It will be the first shipyard facility anywhere in the world to have the capability to construct, maintain, repair and upgrade both offshore assets and commercial vessels in one location. There will be multiple docks, including a 550 m-long shipbuilding dock in Zone C. Over the large dock in this zone, there will be two cranes which can work in tandem to lift over 2,050 tonnes. Meanwhile Zone A will have one of the world’s largest Synchrolifts with in-excess of 30,000-tonnes lifting capacity. The shipyard will have a total quay length of 9 kms Commercial operations have also begun in other areas of IMI’s business, Panter said. Engineering work has begun on newbuild ships and rigs following the signing of newbuilding contracts last September and this January respectively. The September deal involved the company’s first shipbuilding contract – a VLCC for Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Bahri, a shareholder in IMI with a stake of 19.9%. The contract marks the first ship in a 10-year, 52-vessel off-take agreement between Bahri and IMI. Construction of the ship is being undertaken in partnership with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), also an IMI shareholder with a 20% holding. Meanwhile, following the signing of Rig Purchase Agreements with ARO Drilling, a 50:50 joint venture between Saudi Aramco (with
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a 40.1% IMI stake) and Valaris Companies, construction of two Le Tourneau Super 116E jack-up rigs has begun. Through a subcontracting arrangement with UAE-based offshore and renewable energy construction firm Lamprell (a 20% shareholder in IMI), the rigs are being built at its shipyard in Hamriyah. Great emphasis is being placed on Saudisation of the IMI project – from head office staff right through to blue-collar workers in ship and rig construction and repair. This is a top priority for Fathi K. Al-Saleem, IMI’s Chief Executive, and a Saudi Aramco executive with experience across many sectors including oil and gas, chemicals, pipelines and refining. He is a specialist in economic analysis, investment appraisal and enterprise risk management. Speaking at an interview in 2018, Mr Al-Saleem stressed the importance of comprehensive Saudi involvement from senior management right down through the ranks to the shop floor. Human resource development, he said, would lie at the very centre of the shipyard’s business strategy. These first three projects provide clear evidence of this. The first 700-person annual contingent of apprentices has recently qualified and many will be sent to work on these first projects to gain hands-on experience.
New in-house design team for A&P UK’s A&P Group plans to grow its in-house design team in response to greater demand for the certainty and precision it offers commercial marine clients. Based at A&P Falmouth, the commercial design team comprises five best-infield specialists and delivers projects from initial design through to planning, programming, installation and support. Established in 2010, A&P’s in-house design team has delivered numerous projects for commercial marine clients including Condor Ferries, James Fisher Shipping and ABC Maritime. Some of the most recent projects have included BWM system installations, exhaust system re-routes and replacements, the installation of new crane pedestals and other structural works. Steve Jones, Managing Director for Operations and Site Director at A&P Falmouth said, “The common requirement for all shipowners and operators is to build certainty into their operations. By expanding our design service and the breadth of our expertise, we will
