Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (NAKILAT) has signed a joint venture agreement with Damen Shipyards Qatar Holding B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Damen Shipyards Group, to jointly operate a shipbuilding facility in the Port of Ras Laffan, Qatar.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nakilat, said: “Our vision is for the new shipyard to become a centre of excellence for the construction of all types of vessels [up to 394 ft in length] that are required to secure and support the development and growth of Qatar’s oil and gas industry and its expanding marine industries sector. Damen is a world leader with the proven expertise to assist Nakilat in achieving this vision”.
Nakilat and Damen have agreed to form a 70/30 joint venture company (JVC) to manage the operation of the 15-hectare shipyard, which has been built on reclaimed land in the expanded Port of Ras Laffan.
The name of the JVC is Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar, Limited.
The Ship Construction Facility, scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter 2010, is capable of building vessels with a length overall of up to 394 ft. The facility has been designed to produce a wide variety of vessels, to include:
• Commercial vessels (e.g. tugs, offshore supply vessels, coastal tankers, ferries)
• Naval and Coastguard vessels
• Luxury yachts (Custom and semi-custom steel / aluminium vessels)
The facility includes a Construction Hall, 886 ft long, 213 ft wide and 131 ft high, in which four 394 ft long vessels can be constructed simultaneously. Supporting facilities also include fabrication, pipe working, and mechanical & electrical shops which utilize the latest process technologies, to ensure world-class quality, delivery and productivity.