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Oman Drydock Company (ODC) took the opportunity of its participation at SMM to announce details of its first major LNG repair and maintenance project since being awarded a Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) license in June. The yard has just completed work on the LNG carrier Ibra, a membrane containment type vessel using GTT technology.
The Ibra carrier project involved a series of complex repair and maintenance jobs. The vessel needed hull blasting , painting and cargo tank inspection by GTT and an overhaul to its machinery, including the main engine, propeller, boiler and generator, as well as various smaller outfitting and electrical jobs. ODC deputy chief executive officer, Sheikh Khalil Al-Salmi, said: “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 and ODC is committed to delivering on cost, quality and time.”
ODC is one of the newest and biggest shipyards in the world and is based in Duqm, Oman. 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 LNG carriers at any one time.
ODC signed its new GTT license 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 center for LNG expertise,” said Sheikh Khalil Al-Salmi. “It has strengthened our offering for cargo containment systems for high-end LNG carriers.”
ODC’s geographical location is also a key selling point. Sheikh Khalil Al-Salmi, added: “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.”
This year ODC has seen an increase in the number of vessels docking at the yard, with visitors including tankers, containerships, and more specialized vessels. It has also recently been awarded an OBO-to-VLCC conversion project for Springfield Tankers of Greece.
Over the course of recent months ODC has also started to carry out industrial and offshore fabrication work. Sheikh Khalil says, “Originally we planned to do this in 2015. But we saw a window of opportunity, so we decided to do this work earlier than expected.” The yard in particular plans to target repair and maintenance for offshore platforms and rigs.
