According to reports, Dubai Drydocks will launch its $60 million newbuilding panel line and steel structure assembly facility in July.
The yard, whose current shipbuilding facility has a monthly turnover of 2,800 tonnes of steel, plans turning over similar volumes of steel per month for the newbuilding. It is already building the gravity base structure for a 10,000
steel construction with an extensive piping arrangement and four 6,200 dwt bunker tankers due to be delivered in March.
Dubai Drydocks, which also wants to be involved in tanker, bulk carrier and containership sectors through series building, is planning to build four 47,000 dwt products carriers in a series that could extend to 20 vessels.
It is said that the yard had also signed letters of intent covering the construction of the bottom end of two semi-submersibles and two accommodation barges for Caspian Sea duties. The first phase of work, involving the landward panel line, is expected to finish by April, while the load-out facility will be ready by August. In addition to shipbuilding the new plant will add 10 per cent to the existing shiprepair capacity of the Dubai Drydocks. Overall, the plant once ready will account for 25 per cent of Dubai Drydocks total turnover, enabling it to build vessels up to 15,000 to 20,000 dwt, including tankers and container ships.
The plant will be able to build 120m long and 60m wide vessels and with a width of 60m, it is possible that Dubai Drydocks could build hulls in three sections for future FPSOs. Launched late in 2004, the Safina project is being constructed within Dubai
Drydocks existing site adjacent to Port Rashid and Dubai Maritime City.
The project will occupy 140,000 square metres from the current shipyard area of 800,000 square metres. The proect will include an innovative hydrolift system for launching new
build ships.