Tender floated for ship repair yard, dry dock at Duqm

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MUSCAT -- The Government has invited bids for the construction of Oman's first ship repair yard and dry dock complex, which will be established at Duqm Port on the Wusta coast. The giant facility, which is expected to rank among the biggest ship repair yards in the world, will be equipped to handle some of the largest vessels in service today, including Ultra-Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) of up to 600,000 deadweight-ton (DWT) capacity. Specialist contractors with experience in construction world-class dry dock projects are eligible to bid for the project.

It involves the construction of two dry docks: one of 410-metre length and 95-metre width, and the other of 410-metre length and 80-metre width. The selected contractor will also build other marine structures, including a 2.8 kilometres of outfitting quays, cofferdam, crane foundations, and other facilities. The contract also calls for the development of over 1 million sq metres of paved area, which will be used to house, among other things, workshops and plants, accommodation buildings such as dormitories for workers, administration buildings, and facilities for electrical and mechanical works. A total of 36 buildings are envisioned within the scope of the contract.

South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company (DSME), the second largest shipbuilder in the world, will oversee the construction of the ship repair yard on behalf of the Ministry of National Economy. Excluded from the scope of the latest tender is a floating dock, which is proposed to be added later in the development of the ship repair yard and dry dock complex. Besides, fabrication of the dock gates, as well as the supply of critical dry dock equipment, such as cranes, service towers, overbridges, catwalks, and other plant machinery, will be undertaken in separate contracts, it is learnt.

Significantly, construction of the ship repair yard and dry-dock will run concurrently with the Phase 1 development of the marine infrastructure for the new Duqm Port. An Omani-Turkish consortium was recently awarded the contract to carry out the first phase development of Duqm Port at a cost of RO 186.892 million. Consolidated Contractors Company (Oman)Consolidated Contractors Company (Oman) and Sezai Turkes -- Feyzi Akkaya Ltd (STFA) of Turkey) are currently mobilising in preparation for the commencement of the maritime works package in joint venture with Belgian-based international dredging giant Jan De Nul Dredging Ltd.

Phase 1 -- or the maritime works package -- covers the construction of breakwaters and quay walls, as well as dredging and reclamation works. Two breakwaters of a total length of around 5 kilometres. A pair of quays will also be constructed -- a 700-metre-long quay for container, general cargo and dry bulk vessels, and a 330-metre quay for government vessels.

In addition, dredging will be carried out to provide for the entrance channel, harbour basin, construction pockets and turning circle, with deeper dredged pockets created at the berths and floating docks. The harbour basin will be dredged to a depth of -16 metres and the approach channel to -17 metres. Also as part of the maritime works package, reclamation will be undertaken behind the breakwaters, quay walls and inshore areas. A 30-month timeframe has been stipulation for the execution of the ship repair yard and dry dock. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2010.

By Conrad Prabhu

© Oman Daily Observer 2007