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Oman Drydock Company (ODC) has appointed a highly experienced Omani maritime professionals as deputy chief executive officer to help support the further growth of its already rapidly expanding operations. Dr. Ahmed Al Abri has more than 17 years of experience working as a naval architect overseeing major projects in shipyards around the world in the UK, Holland, Romania and Singapore.
“When I first went to study Naval Architecture at Southampton University in the UK, there were no shipyards in Oman,” he said. “Now, nearly 20 years on, Oman is blessed with one of the best equipped, most competitive, most strategically located shipyards facing the Arabian Sea in Oman Drydock. For me, this is a job which fits perfectly with my experience and academic background.”
He says he is ‘absolutely relishing’ working with the Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) team at ODC. He adds, “DSME has done a good job with the existing Omani staff getting this shipyard off the ground over the last 10 years. The vision now is to kick on and build on this solid bedrock, of more than 300 drydockings, repairs and conversions, and take Oman Drydock to the next level.”
One of his aims will be to tackle various issues that have slowed operations in the past such as visa and customs bureaucracy as well as environmental obstacles. In addition, Dr. Abri plans to expand the yard’s supply chain, building strong alliances with a broad cross section of companies including welders, painters, blasters and engine suppliers, while improving the truck, rail and logistics access to Duqm.
“All these factors make us much more desirable to customers who want to ride a commercial wave and see real passion, real commitment and real hunger from a new keen shipyard that wants to impress by delivering the best possible service,” he says. “ We have seen that recently with Springfield Shipping in Greece where the extra efforts that we went to converting the Olympic Luck from an OBO to a VLCC saw us rewarded with a contract to complete two more conversions on the Olympic Lion and Olympic Leopard. This dedication to the customer, as well as our confidence and capability to deliver, is fundamental to the future success of the Oman Drydock.”
Dr Al Abri believes ODC’s geographical position is a key unique selling point. He concludes, “The convenience we can offer means ship-owners can save time and money by not having to deviate course through the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, we offer the ideal climate for painting and blasting which other shipyards in the Gulf cannot match because they do not share our climate.”
