Plans for Saudi mega yard move ahead

OCTOBER 12, 2016 — Plans to build what would be the world’s largest shipyard in Saudi Arabia are moving ahead. Royal Haskoning DHV UK Ltd reports that it, in consortium with Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., it has been selected to perform the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the infrastructure of a world-class and globally competitive maritime yard in Ras Al-Khair.

This follows the June signing of a joint development agreement between Saudi Aramco, National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri), UAE rig builder Lamprell and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to assess the operational, financial, personnel and legal aspects of the project.

According to Royal Haskoning DHV, the yard will will be located north of Jubail on the Arabian Gulf and will comprise a distinct shipyard facility for large shipbuilding, large ship repair, offshore rigs fabrication, and offshore support vessel repair. As planned, this facility will become the largest maritime yard in the world providing a range of services. It will be located north of Jubail on the Arabian Gulf.

“Maritime yards must be globally competitive with facilities which are cost-effective, operationally flexible, and durable,” says Royal Haskoning DHV Project Director Adrian Arnold. “This project combines four different yards into a single development, creating significant opportunities for economies of scale and enhancing the country’s economic development.”

The yard will have a range of facilities including seven fully-equipped dry docks, two basins and five piers, a shiplift system, workshops, warehouses, utility services areas, as well as office buildings, living quarters, and recreational facilities for more than 10,000 workers.

Royal Haskoning DHV undertook the initial market study for the maritime yard in 2014. The FEED development work is now scheduled to take five months.