Oman Drydock completes major LNG repair contract
Time：2014-09-10
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ODC, which is the largest ship repair yard in the Middle East, has just completed work on the Ibra LNG, owned by Oman Shipping Company (OSC), one of the biggest shipping companies in the Gulf.
It is the first membrane containment LNG vessel, to be repaired at the yard after ODC passed stringent tests, to be awarded the GTT quality systems licence for LNG repairs.
ODC deputy CEO Sheikh Khalil Al-Salmi said: “The Ibra carrier project involved a series of complex repair and maintenance jobs. The vessel needed hull blasting and painting, cargo tank inspection by GTT and an overhaul to machinery.
“This included the engine room, propeller, boiler and generator as well as outfitting and electrical jobs. The speed and efficiency of our service combined with our world class facilities and location enabled us to complete the project ahead of schedule. For painting we have the perfect climate that few other yards can offer.
“ODC is committed to delivering on cost, quality and time.”
Tarik bin Mohamed al Junaidi, acting CEO of Oman Shipping Company, said: “Since commercial operations began in 2003, OSC now has a fleet of 43 vessels and an order book of 10 vessels to be delivered between 2015 and 2016. The Ibra LNG is one of the seven LNG vessels which are commercially and technically managed in-house from Muscat.
“The DWT capacity of the current fleet is around 8 million DWT, increasing to around 8.5 million DWT once the order book is delivered.”
ODC is one of the newest and biggest shipyards in the world and is based in Duqm, Oman’s planned new ports and logistics mega city. Following a soft opening in 2011, the $1.5bn shipyard, which is 1.3 million square metres in size, has drydocked more than 250 vessels.
The yard’s LNG services covers key areas such as the supply chain of various materials including invar, insulation boxes, membranes, prefabricated panels and cryogenic safety valves. Further investment has included renovation to its cryogenic shop so it can repair up to four LNGCs at any one time.
ODC signed its new GTT licence in June at the Posidonia shipping trade fair in Athens, Greece.
“The GTT license has enabled us to put into place a solid quality system as a centre for LNG expertise,” commented Sheikh Khalil Al-Salmi.
“It has strengthened our offering for cargo containment systems for high-end LNG carriers. Along with our partner DSME, and its subsidiary DSEC, we have developed one of the most advanced LNG repair packages in the world.
“ODC’s geographical location is also a key selling point. It thrusts us into pole position for the Asia to Europe shipping route as well as the East African and Indian off shore industries. We can further slash costs and the time required for drydocking as vessels do not need to greatly deviate their course.
“We can accommodate any size of vessel and benefit from a robust track record working on Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to container ships to LNG and LPG carriers to chemical carriers dredgers, RO-ROs and barges.”
In another new development to help support growth at Duqm, Oman Air has started flying four times a week to the frontier town. Oman Air’s Embraer E175 planes are flying the route.