March 13, 2005

Jadaf Dubai, the oldest ship repair yard in the Arabian Gulf area, has completed the training program for the first batch of trainees in management of ship lifts and yard operations. The training programme, the first of its kind in the Middle East region was facilitated by an expert team of dockyard specialists at Jadaf Dubai.

The first batch of trainees consisted of seven participants from Qatar and two UAE nationals. The successful candidates were awarded with certificates in Operations and maintenance of ship lifts, Fire-fighting and marine environment protection at a ceremony which was held recently. Senior instructors who delivered the training were also honoured at the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Hamed Mohammed Matar Bin Lahej, General Manager of Jadaf Dubai , said: "Jadaf Dubai has been conducting a number of training programmes aimed at upgrading the skills of our team over the past few years. Jadaf Dubai is considered a leading marine repair facility in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region, with key expertise in the field of docking and undocking ships. In 2004, we conducted a total of 2181 such operations, the highest number worldwide, of which 1,495 were done in Dock 1 and 686 in Dock 2."

"The large number of flawless ship lifting operations being conducted at Jadaf Dubai has honed the skills of our specialist teams, enhancing their capability to impart high quality dock yard management training to others. We at Jadaf Dubai are keen to transfer the expertise we have gained through delivering training courses to delegates from different countries in the world."

Jadaf Dubai's ship lift handles all types of sea faring vessels weighing up to 2550 deadweight tonnes (DWT). Vessels come from different countries in the region, including South Asian and African Countries to Jadaf Dubai due to the long-standing reputation of the facility in the field of ship lifting and maintenance.

Mohammed Ali Abdulla Al Ghaithi, Assistant Operations Manager of Jadaf Dubai and Co-ordinator of the training programmes, said: "The three-month course comprised theoretical and practical sessions related to docking and undocking ships, and reading ship blue prints. In addition, the participants also gained critical skills in the management of ships lifts and yards, in addition to undergoing comprehensive hands-on training in marine safety and fire-fighting."

Docking and undocking of ships is a complex operation requiring plenty of experience, precision and expertise reading ship blueprints. The maintenance of shipyards and repair docks requires extensive experience in different areas, fire fighting and marine safety protection, security and occupational hazards, each of which was covered in depth at the training programme.

Abdulaziz Masoud Al Kaabi, Marine Engineer at Qatar Naval Forces and team leader of Qatari trainees said: "We selected Jadaf Dubai for undergoing the training programme after repeated visits to the facility in connection with repairs of our ships. Jadaf Dubai offers some of the most advanced facilities in comparison to yards in other countries, including the United Kingdom. The expertise gained by Jadaf Dubai's team in ship lifting, enables them to impart their know how in a quick and concise manner to the trainees. We are certainly pleased with the levels of competence in Jadaf Dubai and the invaluable experience we have gained in our three months here. The Qatari Naval Forces will be sending another batch of trainees to Jadaf Dubai in the very near future."

"Jadaf Dubai's training of the group from Qatar forms a part of the strategy set out by the Port Customs and Free Zone Corporation, who has outlined key initiatives to transfer its expertise in successful management of ports, ship yards and related facilities to other countries in the MENA region," said Bin Lahej.

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© Press Release 2005