Qatar’s New Port Project (NPP) has signed an agreement with Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) to construct 11 workboats for use at the port, Damen said in its press release.
HE Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, and HE Mr. Jassim Bin Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport, witnessed the signing ceremony between NDSQ and NPP, on Wednesday, 17th December 2014. The contracts were signed by Eng. Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti, Chairman of NDSQ and Managing Director of Nakilat, and Capt. Abdulla Al-Khanji CEO Qatar Ports Management Company & NPP General Supervisor.
NDSQ will build four 29m-long Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug boats, three 16m-long mooring boats and four 15m-long glass reinforced plastic (GRP) pilot boats. The 11 vessels will be built entirely at Qatar’s Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan for delivery in 2016. The vessels will be engaged in service at NPP performing a variety of marine support services to vessels visiting the port.
HE Dr. Al Sada said: “This agreement is a landmark in the continued growth of the State of Qatar’s marine infrastructure and industry. By collaborating with NPP on providing the required vessels to the New Port, Nakilat and Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard are further enhancing Qatar’s position as a leader in ship construction.”
HE Mr. Al Sulaiti said: “The cooperation between Nakilat and the NPP is an excellent example of how local organizations are working together to support the development and growth of our local economy. We are extremely proud that the New Port’s workboats will be built at our country’s own state-of-the-art shipyard facilities.”
His Excellency, The Minister of Transport confirmed that this agreement comes in line with the directives of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, and reflects the full support of His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al -Thani, to ensure that the domestic sector will have the largest share in implementing the economic development projects.
It is noteworthy that the new Doha port is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Qatar , located on 26 square kilometers along the main port centers, with a cost around 27 billion riyals, The new port consists of a container terminal, general cargo berth, imported cars, imported cattle and grain , and support vessels station, coastguard vessels station and marine support unit and support ships.
When launched , the new port project is expected to meet the current and future needs in the light of the development surge in Qatar, which includes various infrastructure and industrial sectors which will be provided by the construction of this huge commercial port like handling free services according to the latest global technology methods and standards of security and international safety.
Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar is a joint venture between Nakilat and Dutch shipbuilder Damen and is based at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan, Qatar. Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar began operations in 2010 and builds ships in steel, aluminum and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), up to 170m in length.