Hyundai wins Nakilat crane deal

The Qatar shipping company Nakilat has awarded a major contract to Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Company Limited and Hyundai Corporation (acting collectively as the contractor) for ten jib cranes. The contract, which has options, includes the design, supply, construction, installation, test and commissioning of ten rail mounted, level luffing, portal type jib cranes of capacities ranging between 30 tonnes and 100 tonnes.

The cranes are required for operation alongside the quays and dry docks of Nakilat’s new world-class shipyard which is being built in the Port of Ras Laffan. In March 2007 Nakilat and Keppel O&M joined forces to create the joint venture company, Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine to manage the design, construction and operations of the shipyard.

The 43-hectare Nakilat ship repair yard will service and maintain Nakilat’s huge fleet of 54 LNG carriers as well as undertake work on all sizes and types of ships for other owners on a competitive basis.

Muhammad Ghannam, Nakilat’s Managing Director said, “The awarding of the contract for jib cranes is significant because it marks the first in a series of contracts which will realize our vision for the new Nakilat shipyard to become a centre of excellence for the repair and maintenance of LNG carriers. This is a key step which will secure a strategically important link in the supply chain of bringing Qatar’s natural gas from the wellhead to the world.”

The Nakilat shipyard is part of the massive expansion of the Port of Ras Laffan in the Arabian Gulf where the world’s largest LNG developments are being undertaken.