Bahrain’s Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard displays a responsible approach to its ship repair and conversion work. Quality and environmental control rank high among the yard’s priorities.
Like its regional competitors, Asry has developed over the years to meet changing market needs. Today it employs 1500 with cross-trade expertise in engine repair, ship repair, design and construction. It was the first yard in the region to offer owners free war-risk insurance cover in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks.
A versatile yard
Asrys infrastructure provides a high level of versatility. The yard is well equipped with a 500,000dwt (375m x 75m) graving dock and two floating docks for ships of 120,000dwt and 80,000dwt. Eight repair berths, with a total length of over 2,500metres, are supported by large, modern workshops designed to meet the highest international standards.
The yards facilities are complemented by six tugs of 32 tonnes bollard pull, four rail-mounted 15t cranes, one rail-mounted 100t crane, a 200t floating crane, six 12t cranes on the two floating docks and a flat-top barge of 10,000dwt.
Recent investment in facilities includes the floating docks, two new cranes on the floating dock outer walls, high-pressure washing and hydro-blasting machines and equipment for internal tank coating work (refrigerated dehumidifiers, vacuum grit-recovery machines and dust collectors).
Pioneering contracts
One notable recent contract was for a multi-million dollar conversion for Iran Offshore Engineering Company. This contract, the first such project for the yard, was for the conversion of the heavy-lift crane ship Abouzar 1200 into a deepwater pipe-lay barge capable of laying pipe in up to 100m water depth, using the S-lay method. New pipe- handling equipment was installed enabling the vessel to handle pipe from 8in. to 60in. diameter, fully coated. The contract was won against strong competition from major Gulf and Singaporean yards.
Asrys aggressive approach to a highly competitive market bodes well for the future, and the company is now looking to diversify into new areas of business. Explains Al-Khateeb Over the past few years, we have developed close relationships with new owners; these include major operators such as Vela, Odfjell, KOTC, UASC, Bergesen, ADNATCO, Bahrain Bulk Trade, APMoller, Petrobras and Saudi Aramco. Tonnage from the UK Holland, Greece and India has also visited the yard. Both westbound (primarily) and eastbound tankers are frequent callers. More recently, Asry has pre-qualified with a number of the worlds leading FPSO operators and we hope to be winning orders in this specialist market in the near future.
Quality certification
Al Khateeb comments, Asry is constantly looking for ways to improve its efficiency and services. ISO 9001-2000 certification was awarded in recognition of the work we have done in improving our entire quality-assurance procedures. This is a hallmark which other yards throughout the world are also trying to achieve.
Asry has now begun preparing for ISO 14000 for its environmental management systems. In addition to its environment-friendly blasting chamber and painting shed, the yard recently installed a marine sludge-treatment plant. This minimises the volume of waste materials through an oil separation phase followed by a process of solid remediation, processing 2m3 of sludge per hour. This produces clean oil, water suitable for ocean discharge and environmentally safe solids. It is the first of its kind in the Gulf region.
As for the future, Al Khateeb foresees challenging times, with strong competition expected from yards in the Far East. He is confident, however, that Asry will rise to the challenge. Our focus on quality service will help us to succeed in the future. We want to show that we can handle all kind of jobs competently jobs where time, quality and reliability all count.