From right: The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Managing Director and CEO of RasGas Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, the Chief Executive Officer of RasGas Operating Company Ltd Sheikh Khalid K Al Thani and the Managing Director of Nakilat Muhammad Ghannam, after the naming ceremony of the barge yesterday. Pictures by Kammutty VP
DOHA: The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada yesterday unveiled the name of the giant load-out and recovery barge in Ras Laffan yesterday.
The 140m barge is the first project to be completed by Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) and the first vessel of its kind constructed entirely in Qatar.
The barge’s name, Al Ghatroushah, was revealed by the minister at a ceremony held at NDSQ’s facilities at the QR3.5bn Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard facilities on the Port of Ras Laffan’s Southern Breakwater.
Qatari dignitaries and top level management from the shipyard’s owner Qatar Petroleum, NDSQ, Nakilat and a host of companies from Qatar’s marine sector attended the event, which was held aboard the barge.
The 6,500-tonne load-out and recovery barge took 1.6 million man-hours to complete and not a single Lost Time Incident (LTI) was recorded throughout the barge’s build and launch — an unprecedented safety achievement for such a young company. The barge now forms part of the shipyard’s infrastructure and will be used for the launch and recovery of boats by NDSQ, which is currently building 19 workboats up to 32m in length for QP’s Port of Mesaieed.
Dr Al Sada said: “The rise of Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahama Shipyard is a story of which all of us can be proud. We are committed to continue with this excellence and innovation. We trust that our growing marine industry will bring great benefits to the future generations.”
Nakilat Managing Director Muhammad Ghannam said: “As a young company, NDSQ has made an incredible stride forward in completing this project, but we have not achieved this milestone alone. I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Minister of Energy and Industry for his unwavering support to our ongoing activities.
“A special note of thanks is also due to QP’s Technical Group for their expert supervision of the construction of our shipyard facilities and to Ras Laffan Industrial City for the assistance it continues to provide. NDSQ and Nakilat are proud to be involved in turning the dream of a fully-fledged Qatari marine industry into a reality,” Ghannam said.
NDSQ is a joint venture between Qatari shipping company Nakilat and Dutch shipbuilding group Damen Shipyards based at Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard. NDSQ began operations in 2010 and builds ships in steel, aluminium and GRP, up to 170m in length. Nakilat is Qatar’s premier shipping company, overseeing the world’s largest fleet of LNG vessels. In 2005 Nakilat was requested by QP to manage the development of a world-class shipyard at Ras Laffan.
Nakilat has since created joint ventures with world-renowned marine industry specialists to operate the yard, while Nakilat’s development of Qatar’s premier shipyard continues.
The Peninsula
