Qatar’s premier marine company Nakilat has secured vessel building and operations contracts for the Port of Ras Laffan via its joint ventures, shipbuilder Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) and towage operator Nakilat SvitzerWijsmuller (NSW).
NDSQ has signed to build seven vessels — two 60-ton bollard pull (BP) azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs, two 45-ton BP ASD tugs, two 15-ton BP twin-screw mooring boats and one pilot boat — which will be ready for service by autumn 2014 / spring 2015. NSW will then operate the seven vessels at the Port of Ras Laffan on a 14-year contract with Qatar Petroleum.
NSW already operates a fleet of 25 vessels at Ras Laffan and a further five vessels at Halul Island, performing about 12,500 tug jobs per year in the Port of Ras Laffan. In addition to the new order for the Port of Ras Laffan, NDSQ is constructing 19 workboats for use at the Port of Mesaieed.
Commenting on the signing of the vessel construction and operation contracts, Managing Director of Nakilat and Chairman of NDSQ and NSW, Muhammad Ghannam said: “We are delighted with the continued confidence in the services that our joint ventures are providing in Qatar. NSW will ensure that the Port of Ras Laffan will continue to receive first class harbor services at increased capacity using vessels built in Qatar by NDSQ. We’re thankful to HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada for His Excellency’s continued support of the operations of Nakilat and its joint ventures at the Port of Ras Laffan and at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard.”
Director of Industrial Cities, Abdulaziz Jassim Al-Muftah added: “The growth of NSW’s services in the Port of Ras Laffan and of NDSQ’s activities at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard confirm Ras Laffan Industrial City’s position as a leading LNG terminal and marine hub. QP is committed to the development of Qatar’s energy infrastructure and marine capabilities, and to a bright future for our country’s economy and industrial sectors.”
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, October 22, 2013; Image: Nakilat