Oman Drydock Company upbeat for the future

The yard undertook 75 drydockings and repairs in 2013 taking the total number to 190 since the yard opened in Duqm in Central Oman in 2011. Vessels worked on included VLCCs, crude oil tankers, container ships, LNG and LPG carriers, chemical carriers, bulk carriers, dredgers, ro-ros and barges. Clients include Dynacom Ship Management, NYK, MSC and Exmar Ship Management, Gulf Marine, the Shipping Corporation of India and Pacific International Lines.

ODC marketing director Johnny Woo said key jobs undertaken included the drydocking and repairs of two crude oil tankers the Karachi, operated by Pakistan National Shipping and the D & K-1 operated by Synergy Maritime. ODC further undertook work on the MT Gladiator, the first ship from Dynacom Ship Management.

Mr Woo said the company has ambitious expansion plans for 2014, harnessing its two large drydocks and an abundance of space, enabling it to handle any size of ship. “In 2013 we saw ODC continue to establish itself as one of the main ship repair and conversion locations in the Middle East,” he said. “Our focus moving forward will be to win more business from existing and new customers operating carriers, tankers and container ships. We see real potential for growth particularly in becoming a centre of excellence for the repair of LNG carriers.”

Future plans include building on the yard’s existing partnership with DSME to provide specialist LNG carrier repair technology, for which ODC is investing in new facilities including a renovated cryogenic shop able to handle up to four LNGCs at any one time. LNG capabilities will be further strengthened by a new license from GTT of France.

Mr Woo said ODC saw further growth opportunities in the offshore oil and gas market, with repair and conversion to drillships, FPSOs and jack-up vessels as well as construction of offshore modules.

He considers that ODC’s partnership with South Korean DSME is especially important to continuing success.“Our partnership with DSME gives us tremendous experience and technical expertise as it provides 30 highly experienced senior managers, including our CEO Yong Duk Park, to help run the shipyard,” he said.