Drydocks World-Dubai is signalling its rising strength in the shiprepair and conversion space with the addition of two new berths capable of doing large floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel conversions.
The two new berths will increase its FPSO conversion capacity by two vessels a year and the recently completed berths 9 and 10 are already being used, currently accommodating the 380-metre long TI Asia, and Abuzar, which are both undergoing conversion works.
The new FPSO Quay is located on the lee face of the main breakwater at its Dubai yards, with a total length of 668 metres and a dredged depth of 11 metres over a length of 630 metres. Each new berth is more than 59 metres wide.
'We are proud to have successfully completed another expansion project at our shipyard. The two new berths will further strengthen Drydocks World-Dubai's profile as the largest and most efficient maritime industry hub in the region,' said Drydocks World director of infrastructure development Bob Normand.
'Berths 9 and 10 are capable of handling supertanker-size vessels,' he added.
The completion of the two new berths enables the shipyard to provide more laydown and fabrication areas for the conversion of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to FPSOs.
FPSOs usually dock for 1-2 years, occupying crucial yard space for repairing of vessels. The new berths, which currently operate with three cranes, provide the much needed additional space to meet growing customer demand.
Berth 10, which is at the seaward end of the quay, became operational on March 22, with the berthing of the 441,893 tonne TI Asia, one of the four largest oil tankers in the world, now undergoing FPSO conversion there. Berth 9 was completed on April 8 and is fully operational for conversion works.
Lloyd's List reported last year that demand for FPSOs remains strong, with more contracts expected to be awarded in deepwater basins such as Brazil and West Africa, and in the shallow-water regions of the North Sea. Over 20 contracts were awarded last year and analysts expect that in offshore Europe alone, more than 25 potential oil and gas projects may require the services of an FPSO.
Drydocks World-Dubai has gone on an expansion drive in the past two years, recently fully integrating its acquisition of four fully operational facilities in Singapore and Batam. In Singapore, yards that compete for FPSO conversion work include Sembcorp Marine and Keppel Offshore and Marine.