Abu Dhabi - 6 October 2009:  Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is playing a major role in keeping Abu Dhabi's offshore fleets operating through long-term maintenance contracts with the leading oilfield service companies ESNAAD and IRSHAD.

Although best known as the region's leading naval ship builder, ADSB is also a major player in the maintenance of commercial vessels and this side of its business is busier than ever.

Appearing at the Middle East Workboat Exhibition and Conference taking place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 5 to 7 October 2009, ADSB highlighted that it had enjoyed a record throughput in the first half of 2009 with more than 100 commercial vessels calling at its Mussafah shipyard.

Following major expansion ADSB has emerged as one of the region's busiest shipyards for the maintenance of the Gulf's offshore oilfield support vessels.

Two major clients are oilfield services company ESNAAD and the oil terminal operator IRSHAD, both subsidiaries of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The companies awarded long-term contracts to ADSB for the maintenance of their vessels following an international tender process.

ADSB Vice President Marketing, William Stewart said: "Rarely a day goes by when we do not have an ESNAAD or IRSHAD vessel in the yard. The offshore fleet operators provide a vital service in keeping the oilfields running efficiently and this ultimately has an effect on the economy of the country". 

"We see our role as making sure the vessels operate efficiently and, when they come to us for dry-docking and maintenance that they are back in service in the shortest possible time." added Mr. Stewart.

Long term maintenance contracts allow for greater efficiencies for both parties, enabling them to plan dry docking of ships well in advance, without having to go through the process of separate tendering for each individual job.

In August ADSB registered the arrival of its 1500th vessel since commencing operations in 1996. The Abu Dhabi Ports Company vessel Shahama - a regular visitor for many years - underwent maintenance and painting.

ADSB undertakes work for a variety of both individual and fleet owners. The vessels include tugs, barges, landing crafts, dredgers, and variety of oil industry work boats, including crew boats, diving vessels, supply, support and safety vessels and anchor handling /DPS boats. Other visitors include leisure craft and, earlier this year, a privately owned super-yacht.

Mr Stewart said: "We are getting a very positive feedback from owners about the competitiveness, quality and efficiency of our work and foresee that this sector of our operations will continue to expand."

Other prominent owners that entrust their vessels to ADSB include the Dutch companies, Boskalis, Van Oordz and Damen Marine Services while UAE companies include Al Seer Marine, Abu Dhabi Ports and National Marine Dredging Company.

As well as five wet berths ADSB has 12 open air dry berths for vessels up to 100 meters length. A Synchrolift with side transfer berthing system enables the yard to handle vessels of up to 2,000 tonnes along with a Travelift for vessels up to 500 tonnes.

ADSB has a workforce of more than 1,200 from all ship building and repair disciplines.

ADSB will be located at Stand D1 at the Middle East Workboat Exhibition and Conference at ADNEC between 5 and 7 October 2009.

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Abu Dhabi Ship Building
ADSB is listed in the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and its current shareholding is 40% by Mubadala Development Company, 10% by the Abu Dhabi Government and 50% by several thousand individual UAE National shareholders. ADSB employs more than 1200 people. For more information about ADSB, please go to:  www.adsb.net

For more information, please contact:
Noelle Camilleri
Edelman
Mobile: +971 531 9669
Email: Noelle.camilleri@edelman.com

Olya Moskalenko
Edelman
Mobile: +971 55 242 7667
Email: olya.moskalenko@edelman.com

© Press Release 2009