The Minister of State H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Fahad Al Thani (right) with Chairman of Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar Muhammad Ghannam, after signing the agreement at the InterContinental Hotel, yesterday. Kammutty VP
DOHA: Qatari shipbuilder Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) has forayed into the region’s emerging luxury yacht business. NDSQ yesterday announced that it would build the country’s first fast luxury vessel at the Erama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan.
The Minister of State H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Fahad Al Thani and Chairman of NDSQ Muhammad Ghannam, signed the contract to build the vessel. The customized 69m luxury vessel will be built at Qatar’s state-of-the-art shipyard by NDSQ, the shipbuilding joint venture between Qatari shipping company Nakilat and Dutch shipbuilding group Damen Shipyards.
Based on the proven axe-bow hull of Damen’s 67m Sea-Axe navy, coastguard and yacht support vessels, the vessel will be equipped with the latest technology and will reach speeds of up 20 knots.
Yesterday’s signing ceremony announced NDSQ’s entry into the superyacht new-build market, with the company ready to accommodate the world’s biggest luxury vessels.
NDSQ’s facilities at Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard include a 180m long, 70m wide, and 50m high hall for the finishing and refit of high-value vessels, featuring two separate, fully climate-controlled bays.
The signing of the fast luxury vessel expands the list of milestone achievements recently publicised by NDSQ. In January NDSQ inaugurated the 140m barge Al Ghatroushah, the largest vessel ever to have been constructed in Qatar. NDSQ also launched six built-in-Qatar mooring boats in November 2012 and is working on a further 13 vessels destined for use at Qatar’s Port of Mesaieed.
Sheikh Mohammed said after the signing ceremony: “We are very proud of this great achievement, which represents a key milestone in Qatar National Vision 2030. Our fully integrated marine industry will play a major role in the future development of Qatar and we are delighted to be placing this order for the first vessel of this type to be built in Qatar, for Qatar.”
Muhammad Ghannam commented: “We are honoured to be given this opportunity to deliver this landmark yacht project in Qatar. NDSQ continues to prove Qatar’s shipbuilding capabilities while Nakilat, Damen and NDSQ are all fully committed to realising His Highness’ vision for world-class shipbuilding industry in Qatar.”
Kommer Damen, Chairman of Damen Shipyards Group, said: “We are proud of our partnership with Nakilat and we intend to supply all the necessary support and know-how for NDSQ to become a premier shipbuilder for all vessel types.”
NDSQ began operations in 2010 and builds ships in steel, aluminium and fibre reinforced plastic (FRP), up to 170m in length.
In addition to the hall dedicated to the finishing and refit of high-value vessels, NDSQ’s facilities include a construction hall of 270m long, 65m wide, and a 180m-long assembly hall consisting of four bays; a 400m-long outfitting pier equipped with a 30-tonne crane; a load-out and recovery barge with a lift capacity of 10,500 tonnes; workshops, stores and other support facilities. The Peninsula
