Abu Dhabi Ship Building to deliver 10 vessels in 2010

This was disclosed by Homaid Al Shemmari, Chairman of the ADSB and William S Saltzer, the Chief Executive Officer at a media get-together here on Tuesday arranged to mark the delivery of a 42 metre long landing craft built by the company, to the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.

They said the vessels being delivered this year included two landing craft of 42 metre size , a tug, a workboat and six fast interceptors.

“ADSB currently has 54 new vessels on order. This includes six 72 metre Baynunah Class Corvettes, two 42 metre naval landing craft, 32 fast interceptors of 16 metre size, 12 Ghannatha Class Fast Fighting Boats of 26 metre size, one 26 metre tug and one 19 metre workboat,and they would be delivered in phases,’’ William said. About five of the 150 vessels delivered by ADSB so far are commercial crafts, while the rest are for navy and other security forces belonging to both the UAE and outside.

Homaid said ADSB was pursuing orders for new ships as well as for repairs and refits of used vessels in the MENA region. “Talks are on to get orders from Libya and Algeria, but these are in early stages of negotiations, and we can’t let out the details now,’’ Homaid said.

Asked whether the ADSB was pursuing orders from Saudi Arabia and Iraq which are some of the largest defence spenders in the region, William said, “We are definitely trying to get the doors of Saudi market opened for us. But Iraq market still presents a confused scenario because of the presence of the foreign troops.’’

Brigadier Mohammed Hashem Ibrahim Al Sada, Deputy Commander of Royal Bahrain Naval Force said the new vessel delivered by ADSB would add to the ‘strategic depth’ to the capabilities of the Bahrain Navy. It will be used as for logistic support as well as for direct operations of the Navy.

He disclosed that Bahrain would continue to give orders to ADSB and to support the ship building industry 
of the region.

Homaid said Abu Dhabi Ship Building has created a dedicated project management team to work closely with a delegation from the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces for the project, which has helped achieve the desired technical and quality standards. “We have now started a representative office in Bahrain as part of our strategic alliance with them,’’ he said.

The second 42m landing craft to be delivered to Bahrain is already in advanced production stage and will be launched and delivered in late 2010.

ADSB’s client base includes Navies, Coast Guards and other military, paramilitary and commercial vessel operators across the GCC region. The Company posted a net profit of Dh 114.39 million on revenues of more than Dh 1.16 billion in 2009, representing its best annual performance, ADSB officials said. —ramavarman@khaleejtimes.com