New slipway project for ASRY

Over 30% of all vessels repaired by ASRY (the Arab Ship Building and Repair Yard Co in Bahrain) over the past few years have been in the 120m to 140m category. This has resulted in ASRY having to commit its floating docks for dry-docking these vessels, which has meant turning away much larger vessels.

To capitalise on this demand ASRY has now approved the construction of a new repair slipway with two side transfers.

Studies clearly illustrate that this is a growing market and ASRY fully intends to be in the forefront of repairing vessels up to some 140m in length.

Preliminary design studies have now been finalised and construction will start next year, once final detailed designs have been completed and a construction contract awarded. Dredging of the slipway basin will start in July this year and the complete facility will be finished in July 2007.

ASRY also intends to diversify its activities into further new building works and the modification of small and medium size vessels. From the outset it was recognised that ASRY’s current infrastructure was not suitable. Using any one of the three dry docks for new building work would commit the dock for long periods and have an adverse effect on ship repairs and revenue.

Hence it was decided to explore the viability of building a separate facility for this purpose. Following in depth studies of the various methods of docking and undocking vessels for repair and new building, it was decided that a slipway was the preferred choice. Further studies determined that the limiting size of vessel for the slipway would be:

Maximum length of vessel – 140 m

Maximum breadth of vessel – 20 m

Extreme draft of vessel – 6 m

Displacement of vessel – 5000 tonnes max.

The slipway will comprise a water front ramp, some 26m wide and 226m long with two parallel rails and a winch located at the top. Suitably designed end transfer cradles will be located on the rails whih can be lowered into the water or hauled out by the winch as required to ensure the safe handling of the vessels.