Nakilat joint venture with Damen announces plan to build ships in Qatar
Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), one of the world’s largest shippers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), recently announced two joint ventures that aim to build and operate seven LNG-related vessels.
Damen Shipyard is known for its quality standards and Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar is confident that the ships manufactured in Qatar will have the same quality as those manufactured in other Damen shipyards. (Image Qatargas) Nakilat’s joint venture with privately-owned Dutch Damen Shipyard’s group, Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ), will build the ships in Qatar, according to a company statement.
Jan Wim Dekker, CEO of NSDQ, told The Edge that construction of some vessels will start in 2013 and all vessels will be delivered by 2015. Dekker added that the quality of the vessels will be comparable to the best in the world and similar to vessels delivered by other Damen shipyards.
Nakilat managing director and chairman of NDSQ and Nakilat-SvitzerWijsmuller (NSW), Muhammad Ghannam said, “We are delighted with the continued confidence in the services that our joint ventures are providing in Qatar. NSW will ensure that the port of Ras Laffan will continue to receive first-class harbour services at increased capacity using vessels built in Qatar by NDSQ.”
NDSQ is based at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan, Qatar. It began operations in 2010 and builds ships in steel, aluminium and fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP), up to 170 metres in length. NSW, owned 70 percent by Nakilat and 30 percent by Svitzer Middle East Limited, the Middle East branch of towage operator Svitzer, will operate the ships under a 14-year contract with state-owned oil group Qatar Petroleum, the report stated. The vessels operated by NSW include tug boats, pilot boats, line boats and crew boats.
Like this story? Share it.
