Marcap stands tall in the marine world through its unwavering reliability and client-centric service, with a fully-fledged fleet and a commitment to serving MEA’s top national and international oil and construction companies. Eager to expand in advance of its 30th anniversary, the company is investing in several new areas of interest. President & CEO Samer Qiblawi explained more to Imogen Ward.
Marcap is synonymous with reliability. Having dedicated the last 29 years to developing the perfect fleet, the company is now exploring new areas to further enhance its offering.
“When the company was established, it operated primarily as a vessel owner and manager; that all changed when we expanded our capabilities over the last few years,” explained President & CEO Samer Qiblawi.
When it comes to market expansion, Marcap has all the necessary experience. The company established itself in the UAE in 1996, serving customers within the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea and the Red Sea. From there, Marcap ventured into the Saudi market
“We started with one office in Dammam, serving Saudi Aramco,” revealed Mr Qiblawi.
“Before long, we expanded our network of clients and became an approved contractor for KGO and many other highly esteemed companies. In 2025, we have 3 offices in Saudi Arabia, celebrate 15 Years in the Kingdom and reap the benefits of that risky decision.”
Chartering distanced waters
Today, the company manages a fleet of 30+ vessels after the successful fleet expansion over the last two years. Marcap began management of seven towing tugs and an SSRV, which was fully enhanced to meet stringent UAE regulations, to improve Marcap’s ADNOC L&S offshore projects.
The three 40-tonne towing vessels were mobilised outside the UAE in mid-2024 and have been in operation ever since. The SSRV was brought all the way from Malaysia and upgraded with A-Frame Davit and a fast rescue boat, as per tender requirements.
now developing new relationships and implementing new services to suit the needs of this market.”
Expanding the portfolio
Keen to stay ahead of the curve, last year, Marcap introduced new verticals, in response to the evolving needs of customers, especially those coming to the MEA market from abroad and not familiar with the local requirements.
The success of these new additions has encouraged Marcap to continue its expansion plans into 2025, with several LCT building contracts underway.
With so much success in complex projects under its belt, Marcap felt confident in stretching its geographic presence, specifically in the Mediterranean, South America and East Africa.
“We launched several new service packages in order to better cover a client’s demands,” explained Mr Qiblawi. “These include ship management from A to Z, tailored crew supply, get home safely ship delivery service, logistic project management and end-to end solution, vessels cross chartering, and becoming the classic OSV vessel provider and operator. These packages are already being utilised in several key regions, including UAE, Malaysia and Latin America.”
So far, these new services have been received positively, with customers appreciating Marcap’s ability to tailor its approach to each project.
“We recently began operating in Chile and Mozambique, both outside of our traditional geographical area,” revealed Mr Qiblawi. “We are proud to say that we performed well, and we are now mobilising another vessel from Paraguay to Mozambique.”
This tender is not the first time that Marcap has experienced Mozambique waters.
The company already has two vessels from Noatum Marine (ex-Safeen) under its management in the area, so it is well-positioned to execute this new project.
“The success of our latest contract has really increased our curiosity for the region,” said Mr Qiblawi. “For that reason, we are
“There was a signficant gap in the market for comprehensive services, and we felt our experience would be crucial to helping meet that need,” said Mr Qiblawi. “By leveraging our expertise and global reach, we have been able to provide customised solutions that not only enhance efficiency but also operational effectiveness and crew safety.”
A company that cares
In line with its mission to be recognised as the first-choice supplier, providing the highest level of marine offshore services with absolute
regard to safety, Marcap continues to prioritise crew welfare.
which we are going above and beyond on a daily basis.”
In 2019, Marcap introduced ‘Happiness Programme’ – a moral booster and extra motivation for people. It is an indirect message from the management saying: “Everybody is important and valuable.” For example, Marcap has a dedicated coach who regularly visits the office and vessels to keep people in a good physical shape.
Last year saw the company implement a brand-new campaign focused on crew happiness. ‘One Big Family’ focused on bringing together people in the offices and offshore to strengthen the bond between every member of the team. Designed with each employee in mind, the campaign aimed to ensure no one felt alone, to provide everyone with easy access to support when needed and to build a stronger sense of community throughout the entire company.
“We are always eager to find new ways to further enhance crew safety and wellbeing,” continued Mr Qiblawi. “The ‘One Big Family’ campaign allowed us to really bring the spirit of our people together and make sure they have access to hotlines designed to help them in their time of need.
“When you have so many crew members, it can be difficult to ensure they all feel seen and heard, that is why we are determined to get the word out there.”
Mr Qiblawi was especially proud of Marcap’s success in its contracts with ADNOC. There is minimal overstay during crew changeovers and the company works hard to stay ahead of changeover times.
Alongside its dedication to social sustainability, Marcap also always prioritises its environmental impact.
Eager to provide crew members with many different avenues for communication, Marcap is also utilising ShipArc software, to gain valuable insight from onboard its vessels. It is hoped that communication and safety levels will increase with the adoption of this app.
“Implementing ShipArc was an important step in our HSE development programme, because it is designed to help reduce incidents, increase safety of crew members and improve our service offering,” shared Mr Qiblawi. “We have also been honoured to attend many of our clients’ HSE events, where we take the opportunity to talk about our own practices and the different ways in
“Sustainability is a very important subject across the entire industry,” said Mr Qiblawi. “And it is one that touches our company too. From small changes like implementing plastic collection in the office to examples that have a much greater impact, such as operating efficient vessels that create minimum pollution. This, in addition to many other detailed programmes, ensures we continue to prioritise sustainability wherever possible.”
With its 30th anniversary fast approaching, Marcap intends to maintain this crucial commitment to crew safety and environmental protection as it continues to grow.
“We want to keep expanding and developing,” remarked Mr Qiblawi, in conclusion. “Whether that be our internal systems or our geographical reach, we are determined to enhance our offering to provide customers with the very best, sustainable and socially responsible service on the market.” n
