In order to meet the rising demand from domestic and international operators, Premier Marine Engineering Services, a UAE-based shipyard company that specializes in ship building and repair services for the marine and offshore industries, and AD Ports Group, the operator of industrial cities and free zones, have teamed up.
The joint venture Safeen Drydocks is set up with a 51 percent ownership by AD Ports Group and a 49 percent ownership by Premier Marine.
The new business will provide services such drydocking, shipbuilding and refurbishment, afloat repairs, and shipbuilding.A 45,000 square meter shipyard and repair facility, a 350 meter quay wall for vessel afloat repairs, and a floating drydock for vessel maintenance and refurbishing will all be included in the Safeen Drydocks hub, which will be situated at Khalifa Port.
“The establishment of Safeen Drydocks is a milestone development for Safeen Group as it significantly broadens our scope of services and ability to serve the regional maritime industry,” Capt Ammar Al Shaiba, acting chief executive of the maritime cluster and Safeen Group at AD Ports Group, said.
After President Sheikh Mohamed opened the previous Dh4 billion ($1 billion) expansion of Khalifa Port in December, the most recent action was taken. This comprised the expansion of the terminals in Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Port Logistics, and South Quay at the port.
The size of Khalifa Port has increased from 2.43 square kilometers to 8.63 square kilometers, and its quay wall has grown from 2.3 kilometers to 12.5 kilometers. With an estimated worth of Dh20.4 billion, it now provides 21 berths and offers customized services for vital businesses. Khalifa Port, which was inaugurated in December 2012, was built on a 4 km-long tract of reclaimed land.