Gulf Daily News

The Bahrain National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) will award a $400 million Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal contract next month, Energy Minister Abdulhussain Mirza told local media this week. The LNG terminal will be constructed near Khalifa Bin Salman Port, on Bahrain’s northeast shore. Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza said it would be operational by early 2018 and would receive deliveries of LNG by ships. Dr Mirza confirmed that his company is going to award the contract for constructing a floating terminal in the sea to receive LNG next month, according to a report in Gulf Daily News. The $400m dollar (LNG) project is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2018.

Fourteen Indian troopers, who have been stranded on board an oil tanker off the coast of Bahrain since December have lastly left for home, says a report in Gulf Daily news. They were among the 16-member crew of Mongolian vessel MT Surya Kuber, which was banned from leaving the country because its Singapore-based owner 7Seas Ship Management allegedly owed Asry and Kanoo Shipping more than $220,000. In December, the vessel arrived in Bahrain for repairs, but was subsequently detained after refusing to pay Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) for their services. An official court ruling in Bahrain was handed down in February banning the vessel from leaving until all debts have been settled after ASRY initiated legal action against 7Seas Ship management.

Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) CEO says repair of the tankship was found not to be viable Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) chief executive Chris Potter told 'Gulf Daily News', "It was felt that the cost of repair would be much more than the cost of the vessel." He said the vessel could be broken apart in Bahrain and then taken away. "We could also have ship-breaking experts coming to Bahrain to examine the vessel and decide on breaking it up." The tanker, which suffered an explosion after a fire in March, had at one point threatened Bahrain's coastline. It arrived in Asry last month in convoy with the help of three large tugs. The cause of the original explosion is still unknown.

The chemical tanker, Stolt Valor, which caught fire on March 15, 2012, north of Bahrain, was  docked at ASRY after Bahrain agreed to accept the ship into its territorial waters. Maritime experts from General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) are liaising with the Arab Ship Building and Repair Yard Company (Asry), which is overseeing the operation to determine the salvage process of the damaged Liberian ship Stolt Valor with its owners. Technical findings following the evaluation of the tanker's condition are expected by the end of the week, reports 'Gulf Daily News'. "The evaluation of the vessel is continuing as planned and will be done to the highest international standards.

Authorities may also reduce other charges to ensure the upcoming cruise season goes ahead in October as ships are due to dock at Khalifa bin Salman Port, sources told the 'Gulf Daily News'. Earlier, other sources said Bahrain's tourism authorities were hoping to have a full cruise season given the last one was scrapped half way through because of last year's unrest. Representatives of stakeholders met Culture Ministry officials following revelations that the season could be in jeopardy after insurance companies said they would charge at least $15,000 (BD5,675) extra for every vessel that berths in the country. This would mean each cruise operator could pay as much as $300,000 (BD113,129) extra per season.

According to a report from the Gulf Daily News, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry)’s ship repair sales reached $40.154 million and 52 vessels were repaired during the first three months of 2011.   (Source: Gulf Daily News)

According to a report on www.gulf-daily-news.com, the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) achieved a net operating income of $106.4 million in the first nine months of the year. The number of vessels repaired during this period reached 147. (Source: www.gulf-daily-news.com)

According to a September 20 report from Gulf Daily News, the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) is pushing ahead with its $188m planned expansion program. The focal point of Asry's latest expansion plans is its new 1.38km repair quay wall, which is being built by local company Nass Contracting under a $80m contract from the shipyard. (Source: Gulf Daily News)

The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) has announced the successful completion of extensive refurbishment work on an oil-rig owned by an Abu-Dhabi based firm. The rig - named Albzoom - was renewed at an estimated cost of $19m by a qualified team of workmen and engineers specially assigned to the task, according to an Asry spokesman. He said the work required very specific expertise and expensive equipment and that the owners of the rig had commented on the quality of the work and the dedication of the workforce during the stages of the repair. The rig - originally manufactured in 1982 by Nippon Kokan K K - is owned by the National Drilling Company (NDC) in Abu Dhabi.

Eleven international oil firms have expressed an interest in efforts to boost production at Bahrain's onshore Awali field, the Oil and Gas Affairs Minister revealed recently. Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza’s statement followed the announcement that US firm Occidental and Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production have been awarded the right to explore for oil and gas off the shores of the country. Some reports have suggested that new technologies could double the amount of oil produced at the field from its current level of 35,000 barrels per day. Bids are expected by the end of the month. The latest round of bidding comes on the heels of the recently concluded tender process for four offshore exploration blocks comprising Bahrain's entire explorable acreage.

Forty-eight employees from the Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Company (Asry) were honored for their services of between 10 and 30 years with the company. The ceremony took place at the company's VIP restaurant at the shipyard and was attended by chief executive Mohamed Al Khateeb, along with senior management and Asry Trade Union representatives. Those who received recognition for 30 years of services include estimator and invoicer Mohammed Essa Shaaban, pipework section head Abdulla Hassan Ebrahim, pipe fitter Sayed Abbas S Hashem, floating crane operator Abdulla Ahmed Khalaf, mechanical supervisor Abdulla Mohamed Budhaish, security officer Khalil Ebrahim Al Mobasher, pipework supervisor Abbas Abdulla Al Tabbal and tug captain Abdul Jalil Abdul Karim Abu-Edrees.

According to reports, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) has been awarded a major contract from National Drilling Company (NDC), in Abu Dhabi, for their offshore self-elevating three legged jack-up drill rig the Al Mariyah. The rig, originally manufactured by Nippon Kokan K K in 1982, is owned by NDC and has been lying unused for a while now. In order to meet the increasing demands of its operations in the Arabian Gulf, NDC has decided to re-activate the rig in a phased manner. Asry has been awarded the first phase of the work and the contract is valued in excess of some $13 million. Asry was awarded the contract earlier in the year and the rig arrived in Bahrain on June 10 for a six-month programme of refurbishment and upgrade work.

According to a Gulf Daily News report, the net profit of the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) is expected to reach $6.4 million this year while the net operating income is projected to reach $106 million, compared with $93 million last year. The projections were made after the company's board of directors reviewed the results for the year 2005. The board met under the chairmanship of Eid Abdulla Yousif and was attended by representatives of shareholding countries. Also present was ASRY chief executive Mohammed Al Khateeb. A total of 144 vessels were repaired or booked for repair, most of which were large crude carriers.