1

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I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul, said
Nelson Mandela and his words struck a chord with me. On the
other hand, our Islamic culture says that even if we run away
from Gods fate, we run into Gods fate. Man is always looking
for the best and he controls his life by making rational choices.
Man is constantly attracting positive and negative feelings
(dissatisfaction and pessimism), which lends to the accumulation
of mental and physical diseases. We should instead use the law
of attraction to gather everything that is positive, and encourage
ourselves to reconstruct the world, reclaim the self, and rene
the soul. If we succeed, we can spread forgiveness, appreciation,
and cooperation around us at work, home, and share it with
our friends, so that our subconscious mind eliminates fear and
seeks peace.
Oman Drydock Company is truly an example of such positive
thinking and the power of collective energy. Inspired by his
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Saids vision, ODC has become a reality
because of the people of Oman. Be it engineers, technicians,
administrators, or workers, they have strived towards one
goal, to make this vision a reality. This is an achievement that
will forever serve as a reminder of cultural reconstruction where
various nationalities collaborated for the drydock project in
Al Duqm.
The ambition is to keep growing by being positive, cooperative,
working as one team, and upholding our values based on the
business strategy. The management is focussed on harnessing
material resources to support human resources because industrial
development is only towards the progress of mankind.
NX_XY8cAX[`[`
>\e\iXcJlg\im`j`fe
M.J. Park
>\e\iXc;`i\Zkfi
Khalil Al Salmi
<[`k`e^DXeX^\d\ek
Nabeel Ba Saad
:_`\]<[`kfi
Wahab Al Jadidi
<[`k`e^K\Xd
Muatasim Al Tuwaih
Telecom Team
Editors
Note
Copyright 2012
FdXe;ip[fZb:fdgXep
For internal circulation only
22
08
3
Contents
'+ COVER STORY
A brief insight into how ODC is making life better in Duqm.
)) SPECIAL INTERVIEW
What makes the Economic Zone in Duqm tick, as revealed by
Yahya Al Jabri.
)- INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The latest news and trends of the international shipping world.
*/ HEALTH AND SAFETY
Safety measures and training programmes at ODC.
+) FEATURE
The inner workings of the machinery department.
++ HISTORY
An interesting history of ship making.
,' ODC NEWS
Nuggets of information on ODC.
,. LEISURE
All work and no play is no fun!
-( PHOTO TALK
Explore ODC through pictures.
04
22
44
4
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In April 2011, wilayat Duqm launched the operational stage of the drydock in Duqm
when it received two ships owned by a Belgian company for service. It was a sign
for starting a new industry in Oman for the maintenance and service of ships. This
will be a new dock that is provided with the latest technology in ship maintenance
and service.
With a good location near the sea route of global trading, this project will make
Duqm the forerunner of this industry in Oman in the coming years. This project
is a part of many other projects in Duqm such as the port, free zone, tourism
HE Said bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the
Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ports and
Maritime Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Oman Drydock Company
COVER STORY
This project
will make
Duqm the
forerunner of
this industry
in Oman in
the coming
years.
5
utilities, and a number of supporting
infrastructure projects including an
airport, power plant, desalination
plant, and a modern network of roads
connecting all these projects to the
wilayat and new residential areas.
All these projects will cause a shift in
Omans economy by diversifying income,
providing new job opportunities to
Omanis, and drawing more investments
in the Al Wusta region specically, and
Oman in general. Furthermore, it will
support business and urban growth
which can promote the economic base
of Duqm and Wusta. This plan is part
of the government policy in income
diversication and reducing dependence
on oil products. It aims to attract
domestic and foreign investment in
order to expand the national economy.
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These projects in Oman aim to achieve
a well-balanced work life and a focus
on achieving Omans 2020 vision,
which has already seen big projects
take shape such as the drydock and
Duqm port. The 2020 vision aims to
make a radical shift in Omans national
economy by multiplying income sources
and reducing dependence on one
non-renewable source which is oil.
The drydock is an attempt to create a
new industry that will be a benecial
investment in terms of human
resources and nance. It will develop an
economical and industrial movement
because of its unique location on the
Arabian sea, located near international
shipping lines connecting the east and
the west, as well as regional shipping
lines connecting the Gulf countries with
countries in the Indian Ocean.
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Duqm port will serve the system of
maritime transport between the ports
of the Sultanate, goods movements,
and industrial and tourism activities as
it is located between the Sultan Qaboos
port in Muscat and the Salalah port in
Dhofar. Duqm port will gain importance
as it has a drydock capability for
ship maintenance and repair. It can
accommodate large ships with 400,000
tonnes capacity and will soon be able
to accommodate ships with a capacity
of 600,000 tonnes. This project will
refresh the tourism movement, create
a need for utilities, and will market the
area as a tourist area.
This dock is a part of Duqm port, built
to be a multi-purpose integrative port,
serving the industrial city, middle and big
industries, repair services, shipbuilding,
marine locomotives, and big stores
which will lead industries in Oman.
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The company started its experimental
stage in April gradually with ships of
different sizes. The drydock consists of
two docks: the rst one is 410mx95m,
and the second one is 410mx80m,
depth of 14m. The drydock can serve
ships with capacities of 600,000 tonnes.
The project has a lay of 2,800m length
and land reclamation with an extent of
453,000 square meters. It also consists
of naval works that include sidewalk
appurtenance, squares, workshops,
warehouses, roads and drainage
systems, ne restaurants, management
ofces, housing for employees, and
a guesthouse. In addition to all this,
there are mechanical and electrical
facilities. After operating this project,
we received more than 46 versatile
ships including the rst tanker for liquid
natural gas (Muscat LNG), owned by
Oman Shipping Company S.A.O.C.
in December.
COVER STORY
6
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Clients are interested in many
factors including time, efciency in
implementing work, reasonable costs;
as long as we achieve all these, we
believe our customers will be satised.
In a short period, we have hosted
various ships and this is a result of
the intensive work of participating in
international exhibitions. Through these
exhibitions we hope to enter dealings
with international agencies which will
provide us with information about
large companies, the owners of these
ships, and arrange appointments with
decisionmakers. This will allow us to
make direct deals in order to gain a
good reputation in the marine eld.
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Competition is an healthy phenomenon
and keeps us working hard. Our strategic
location and international standards of
the drydock, along with other factors
including qualied human resources
and dealing with DSME Company, has
made the dock a primary choice in terms
of quality and punctuality in delivering
ships. The drydock is characterised by
special benets for the ships owner
throughout the duration of their stay
in Duqm.
The Duqm project
will cause a shift in
Omans economy by
diversifying income,
providing new job
opportunities to
Omanis, and drawing
more investments in
Oman and the
Al Wusta region.
COVER STORY
7
COVER STORY
8
COVER STORY
Customers
are condent
to approach
ODC especially
when they
know about
the DSME
connection.
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M J Park, CEO of ODC, says the drydock is the rst project completed in Duqm, and
what has helped achieve this task, according to Park and Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed
al Salmi, Deputy CEO, is the operations and management partnership with Koreas
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), one of the worlds largest
shipbuilders. The Duqm drydock has two graving docks of ULCC class of 410m x
95m and 410m x 80m, ve quays of 2,800m long, and 14 sets of jib cranes with a
lifting capacity of 10040 tonnes on a vast area of 1.3 million square metres.
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For operations and swift maintenance, the expertise of DSME is sought. For
specialised machinery and electrical works, if necessary, subcontractors from
Bahrain and Dubai are brought in. We know what kind of work is going on in
D%A%GXib- CEO
Bahrain and Dubai drydocks. We
would like to establish a similar system
here. It does not make sense to have
companies permanently stationed here
for repair-related work as the market is
inconsistent; sometimes we will be able
to bring in ten ships to repair at one
time, but sometimes we may have only
three or four. So having subcontractors
on a temporary basis works best for
us, says Park.
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The Company collaborates with Oman
Shipping and tracks the crude carriers
passing through the region and
approaches them with their services.
While this strategy has helped procure
orders for the repair of 46 ships so far,
Park admits that ODC still needs to
work to make its name known in the
international markets.
ODC has so far participated in exhibitions
in India, Korea, Singapore, and Norway.
Partner agents in these regions have
scouted for potential clients during and
after the exhibitions and helped ODC
get in touch with them. The DSME
association is a huge advantage for
ODC. DSME is known for its marketing
expertise and its network of clients that
it has built over more than 30 years. It
has lent its expertise to clients in Korea
and across Europe, explains Park.
Hence customers are condent to
approach ODC especially when they
know about the DSME connection.
COVER STORY
9
Market reports
predict a strong
demand for ship
repair services going
forward. But ODC
wants to focus on
taking the brand
to international
markets beyond the
Middle East.
COVER STORY
10
Infrastructure
development for
Duqm is top priority
for the Omani
government right
now and it is just
a matter of time
before the roads,
airport, and even
hotels are ready.
11
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Due to the state-of-the-art fabrication facilities at the yard, Park says there is
potential to develop a steel industrial business in the area. Companies in Iran and
Abu Dhabi are looking at large-scale steel fabrication works for onshore plants such
as power plants, chemical plants, and steel bridges, etc. So steel industrial clusters
can develop around the area. ODC is also looking at offshore projects like oil
drilling and gas drilling due to the demand for these services from potential clients
in Iran, India, the UAE, and Qatar, and this project too is in the study phase. They
cannot depend on ship repair operations alone to achieve the targeted revenues in
2020, says Park.
The immediate focus is to get the oating dock ready in 36 months. Executives
hail the establishment of the Duqm Authority in October as they point out that
any constraint on the infrastructure front can now be addressed there instead of
chasing after government ofcials in the capital area.
When it comes to subcontractors for the drydock, Park says, We are discussing
with the authorities to provide some tax concessions for subcontractors, as people
need incentives to work in a remote area.
While market reports predict a strong demand for ship repair services going
forward, the next step is to take the ODC brand to international markets beyond
the Middle East. Ofcials are banking on DSMEs strong network to gain an edge in
the marketplace. Right now we want to see how successfully the repair operations
part of the business pans out.
Going forward, the outcome of the ship repair operations will determine whether
or not ODC can move forward to shipbuilding. But this requires billions of dollars of
investment, admits Park, adding that ODC needs to consolidate its position in the
region before it can move on to this phase. The potential, however, remains vast in
the shipbuilding business and this is an area that Park is seriously looking at for ODC
for the future. At the end of DSMEs ship repair contract in 2016, if both parties
choose to renew this for the next 10 years then shipbuilding can be looked at with
DSME supplying ODC with the designs. And Park is optimistic about the outcome
of the current operations of ODC.
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Procuring the right manpower and transportation of materials still remains a
challenge as the cost of manpower has gone up and Duqm is still a remote area away
from the countrys capital. But company executives point out that the infrastructure
development for Duqm is top priority for the Omani government right now and it is
just a matter of time before the roads, airport, and even hotels are ready.
COVER STORY
12
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The drydock is known for its strategic location on the trade route between the Indian
Ocean and the Arabian Sea; the busiest route with ultra-large vessels. The port may
also be one of the major ports in the GCC region. Major vessels may benet from
the services and facilities offered by the drydock. Moreover, the drydock is operated
by DSME, which in turn assures customers that they will receive unparalleled high-
quality service.
The wilayat of Al Duqm is the link between the East and West, connecting the
Indian Ocean, Red Sea, East Asia, and North Africa.
Oman Drydock seeks to become one of the leading companies in receiving
vessels especially as it has the biggest dock in the MENA region. It also seeks to
become one of the major components of the Omani port systems. The Company
is expected to contribute to the growth of the national economy when it starts
to generate revenues from trans-ocean and multi-purpose ships. Alongside with
COVER STORY
B_Xc`c8cJXcd` - Deputy CEO
Oman Drydock
seeks to
become one
of the leading
companies in
receiving vessels
especially as it
has the biggest
dock in the
MENA region.
13
ship maintenance and repair works,
the activities of the Company will
have a good impact on tourism and
trade. The ships will have large crews
that will require accommodation and
recreational services. This in turn will
have a good impact on the performance
of other sectors.
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ODC secured a total of 1.3 million
square metres of vast area in Duqm
and is equipped with state-of-the-
art and luxury facilities including two
ULCCclass graving docks (410mx95m,
410mx80m), 5 quays of 2,800m
long, 14 units of jib cranes with lifting
capacity of 10040 tonnes and a slop &
sludge treatment facility including slop
tanks to store 10,000 cubic metres.
ODCs vast area is also ready to serve
not only ship repair and conversion, but
also fabrication of any kind of offshore
structure in the Middle East area such
as platform modules, jackets and
wellheads, etc.
Most shipping-related companies
worldwide say that ODC is located in
a favourable location outside Hormuz
and will play an important role in the
Middle East in becoming a promising
hub of ship repair and conversion.
Also, the marketing division
communicates with a network of
international agents to capture local
and global clients through set or
promotional and marketing channels. A
strategic programme was developed to
take part at the shipping exhibitions in
different parts of the world. ODC has
an annual plan for participation at the
major international conferences and
exhibitions on marine repair. Since in
2009, the Company began to take an
initiative in the Gulf Maritime exhibition
in Sharjah, UAE, to be the actual driver
of participation in such events. In June
2010, ODC participated in Posidonia
held in Greece which is regarded as the
major hub for exhibitions in the world,
followed by the Sea Trade Middle East
in Dubai and the SMM exhibition in
Germany. This year ODC participated
in two exhibitions; Sea Asia Singapore
and Nor-Shipping held in Norway. It has
also taken part at exhibitions at the end
of September and October respectively
of this year in India and Korea in a
bid to promote the drydock project.
This served as a good opportunity in
extending bridges of cooperation and
communication with major shipping
companies and vessel owners as well as
concluding a number of deals.
It also includes marine works that
comprise terminal annexes, workshops,
yards, warehouses, roads, water
drainage systems, restaurants, ofce
spaces, labourers accommodation, a
guest house, in addition to the other
electro-mechanical works. There will
also be a oating hotel, Veronica,
complete with all amenities.
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DSME is the operator and manager of
the project up to 2016. The company
will use its expertise in ensuring the
proper management of this project.
We are doing our best to benet from
their expertise and train our human
resources to take over the posts
currently occupied by expatriates. This
work is an attempt to revive the rich
Omani maritime history. We will also
have long and short-term contracts
with subcontractors to operate some
logistical and service areas.
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:fdgXep6
At the end of last year, the Company had
trained and qualied 172 Omani youth
within the Sultanate. This included
technicians, group managers, and
engineers by allowing them to join the
International Maritime College Oman
(IMCO) for three months, then sending
them for scholarships to get trained
in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine
Engineering Co. Ltd. in Korea and its
branch in Romania for two months
ODCs favourable
location on trade
routes and its
state-of-the-art
facilities places it
high on the list of
drydocks in the
world.
COVER STORY
14
COVER STORY
Firmly believing in the capabilities
of the Omani youth, ODC has
employed more than 300 Omanis in
its different departments.
15
of training on the fundamentals of vessel maintenance and design. Holders of
Bachelors in Engineering and foremen have received training in marine engineering
and mechanisms and now contribute to the growth of the Company. We rmly
believe in the capabilities of the Omani youth, therefore we have employed more
than 300 Omanis in different departments. We also provide them with training
in areas such as vessel engineering, repair, administrative activities, accounting,
nance, purchases, business management, and marketing.
The Company continues to employ and qualify Omanis, raising cultural awareness
about the signicance of the qualied cadre as the Company is going through
a phase of world competition that requires it to maintain an excellent reputation
which can be achieved by becoming perfect in all aspects related to vessel
maintenance and rehabilitation. The main aim is to achieve our mission and vision
and translate them into reality by working together as one team, providing our
customers with high-quality service, meeting their tough deadlines, and enhancing
our brand image.
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
16
AXdXcXcNX_X`Y`
Senior Manager General Administration
17
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We have a diverse culture at ODC and we strive to create a positive environment by
meeting the needs of our employees thus allowing ODC to come together as one
coherent family. To do so, General Administration (GA) is the model department
of ODC which ensures smooth operations of administrative support services
for the operation of the drydock. GA is tasked with setting up from scratch the
various basic facilities for accommodation, meals, transportation, security, and
telecommunications as support for the Duqm operations.
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There are several major achievements that GA is proud of such as the completion
of the dormitory which has a fully-equipped sports centre, and other welfare
facilities that meet the needs of ODC staff. In addition, GA achievements include
the completion of ofce furniture and various ofce facilities that are extremely
important for day-to-day operations.
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The greatest challenge we faced was to convert an empty remote area to a beautiful
place to stay.
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Our future plan is to be able to meet the various basic and necessary requirements
of our staff while adding on to our facilities to meet the future expansion of
our operations.
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ODC has come a long way to create various job opportunities for young Omanis at
all levels since its inception and we are proud to be part of it.
N_\i\nflc[pflc`b\kfj\\F;:`e]lkli\6
I would like to see ODC become one of the best drydock companies in the world
and with hard work and determination, I do believe we will get there.
COVER STORY
18
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The Oman Drydock Company Human
Resources Department is playing a vital
role in Human Resource Development
(HRD) by providing opportunities for
employees to develop their personal
and organisational skills, knowledge,
and abilities. It includes such opportu-
nities as employee training, employee
career development, performance man-
agement and development, coaching,
mentoring, succession planning, key
employee identication, educational
assistance, and organisation develop-
ment.
The focus of all aspects of human
resource development is in creating a
highly-trained superior workforce so
that the organisation and individual
employees can accomplish their
work goals through their service to
customers.
ODC employed nearly 1,000 employees
this year and will continue to employ
more people in the coming years for its
operational needs.
Our department also continuously
provides on-the-job training to our
national candidates to familiarise them
with new industry trends in this region.
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F;:6
To ensure Omanisation, which is
considered as a primary objective, the
recruitment policy has made national
candidates the rst preference for any
job category. As part of all expatriate
contracts, it is a requirement that they
participate in knowledge transfer and
Creating
a superior
workforce.
Apart from recruiting
and training the local
workforce, Oman
Drydock Company (ODC)
has also stipulated that
its expatriate employees
participate in knowledge
transfer which will
help in tutoring and
mentoring Omani
workers.
COVER STORY
B_XncX_8c8di`pX - HRD
19
where appropriate, act as a mentor and coach to Omani nationals.
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As per our long-term business plan, ODC will create nearly 2,000-2,500 new jobs
in the coming years under different skills/positions.
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Z_Xcc\e^\jpfl]XZ\kfi\Zil`kjkX]]6
ODC faced a major challenge to achieve the stipulated Omani ratio due to its
inability to nd the required specialised skills for the ship repair industry in Oman.
We were also unable to retain the Omani employees due to the prevailing strike
culture and unreasonable salary raise requests.
As a result, we were forced to turn to expatriate recruits since there was a lack of
ship repair industry knowledge and experience among the local Omani workforce.
It was also critical for us to obtain labour clearances from the Ministry of Manpower
to recruit this labour workforce.
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As of today ODC has a total of 1000 employees on board. Among those employees
855 are operations employees and 192 are support staff.
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PfliZfdd\ekj%
ODC has initiated a programme to develop/enhance specialised technical skills/
qualication required for yard operations among our national talent pool.
In 2010, ODC identied and trained a number of Omani employees in various
disciplines; domestic training (78 candidates) and international training (37). This
year, we sent 113 candidates for on-the-job training and identied 50 employees
to get specialised technical licenses. Also, we have approved the training schedule
for another 100 candidates during 2012.
ODC has plans to implement the Train the Trainer programme to enhance
the internal trainer knowledge and cost-effective specialised training to ODC
employees. An internal training module has been developed and will start providing
the required technical training in-house.
COVER STORY
20
In order to support Omani women and
as a recognition for their considerable
efforts made in various elds, Al Maraa
magazine, issued by United Media
Services, launched the rst universal
prize to honour Omani women. On
December 5, Al Maraa magazine
held a joyous ceremony sponsored
by Her Highness Dr. Muna bint Fahd
bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant Vice-
Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University
for External Cooperation, at the
Shangri-Las Barr Al Jissah Resort where
Her Highness honored the winners of
this year. Mrs. Khawlah bint Khalifa Al
Amriya, Director of Human Resources in
Oman Drydock Company, was honoured
in this ceremony. Womens Award of
Excellence is an important award that
evaluates Omani womens achievements
in various elds and sectors. Com-
petitors are subject to evaluation and
voting by adopted global institutions.
Mrs. Khawlah bint Khalifa Al Amriya is
one of the Omani women who works
in the industry sector at Oman Drydock
Company. She has worked in (Omantel)
Oman Telecommunications Company
before this. She has also been engaged
in the education sector as a lecturer
and held several positions as well as
been involved in the eld of social
work, presenting workshops in many
programmes in collaboration with the
Oman Chamber of Commerce Industry,
a number of private sector institutions,
and international and local associations
which currently focus on PhDs as they
believe in the importance of educating
and supporting women.
This initiative was sponsored by
Mercedes-Benz (Zawawi Trading,
authorised general distributor for
Mercedes-Benz in the Sultanate),
BankDhofar, Nawras and other
supporting companies like Taageer
Finance Company, Areej Vegetable Oils
& Derivatives, and Givenchy.
Evaluation partner: Ernest and Young.
Media partners: Times of Oman and Al
Shabiba.
Radio partners: Wisal FM and Merge
104.8 FM.
HIGHLIGHTS
Khawlah Al Amriya is
honoured at the Hardworking
Womens Competition.
CSR Activities
Saif Ali al Zidi, General-Secretary of the Board of Directors and Government
Relations, said, In line with ODCs community development and social investment
programme, the Company recently provided the children of families under
social security in the Al Duqm region with schoolbags containing notebooks and
stationery. We supported the project that was held at Sultan Qaboos University
Sultana Submarine which gained recognition at an international level. We also
sponsored many other activities.
He added, The Company attaches great importance to CSR activities. The Board of
Director allocated a budget for this year to invest in some of the development projects
due to company belief in the importance of improving the social surroundings of
the Company whether in Al Wusta or in other regions. The Company also calls
public and private sectors to be prominent sectors that support and invest in social
activities, encourage volunteerism, and consider the community members as an
integral part of the social system who need to be aware about the importance of
participation in country development and in maintaining its achievements.
On the other hand, Saif Ali al Zidi concludes by saying, We recently coordinated
with (Injaz) programme which is supported by (Sanad) - Ministry of Manpower,
in order to implement a training programme that will benet a large segment of
job seekers of both genders in Al Duqm. We hope that this programme will be
implemented in the near future.
HIGHLIGHTS
21
Al Duqm is considered as a future
destination that will attract investments
in different sectors. It is one of the free
zone regions that has become a resource
which the government depends on
and cares about developing to reduce
dependence on depleting oil resources.
The government allocates more than
RO 1.7 billion for various elds such
as tourism, industry, petrochemicals,
shipping, and logistics and other new
sectors in Oman like drydocks.
The government follows strategic plans
in order to develop this zone, adopting
the best practices after providing modern
infrastructure, and a good legislative
and regulatory framework to ensure
investment attraction and to stimulate
trade movement in the region.
Voyage conducted an exclusive dialogue
with HE Yahya bin Said Al Jabri,
President of Duqm Economic Zone.
This dialogue will help reveal Duqm
Zones future vision and important
plans that the government aims to
implement which will attract foreign
and local investments.
N_Xk`jpfliifc\XjXeXlk_fi`kpk_Xk
fm\ij\\j;lhd<Zfefd`ZQfe\6
Duqm Economic Zones is responsible
for the regulation, management, and
development of Al Duqm Free Zone.
It means that Al Duqm Free Zone is
totally responsible to ensure that this
zone achieves the nations aim which
is set by the government for Al Duqm
Special Economic Zone, particularly
in terms of creating job opportunities
for the national labour, to stimulate
economic and commercial movement,
to implement modern technology, and
to improve the skills of Omani workforce
in the Al Wusta Region.
N_Xk`jk_\X[mXekX^\k_Xk;lhd
Jg\Z`Xc <Zfefd`Z Qfe\ X[[j kf
k_\eXk`fej\Zfefdp6
The advantages of Al Duqm Special
Economic Zone will contribute in
establishing an active area for trade
and economic growth between Muscat
and Salalah, and establish facilities for
ship repair which includes two drydocks
and one oating dock. Moreover, it will
contribute in establishing a facility for
shing activities that would be a role
model all over the Sultanate, as well
The total
government
investment in
Duqm is about
RO 1.7 billion.
Yahya Al Jabri: Economic Zone in Duqm will contribute
to about 5% of the non-oil sector of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
22
?<PX_pXY`eJX`[8cAXYi`
President of Duqm Economic Zone
23
as provide multiple services in one place, in accordance with best practices and
international standards, adding another local successful project to those that have
been implemented in Sohar, Salalah, and industrial areas all over the Sultanate.
N_p[`[k_\pZ_ffj\8c;lhdkfY\k_\gcXZ\n_\i\m`kXcgifa\ZkjXi\
`dgc\d\ek\[6
Al Duqm Special Economic Zone is characterised by its strategic location close
to the promising Asian and GCC markets and close to the abundant natural
resources in Al Wusta. It includes eight areas: commercial port, industrial area,
hotels, tourist resorts, learning city, city for logistical support, commercial district,
and modern city.
FliZflekipX[fgkjXe\ngfc`Zp]fi\jkXYc`j_`e^]i\\\Zfefd`Zqfe\j
Xe[ `dgc\d\ek`e^ gifa\Zkj Xcc fm\i k_\ JlckXeXk\ efk fecp `e k_\
ZXg`kXcZ`kp%=ifdpfli<oZ\cc\eZpjgf`ekf]m`\n#n_Xk`jpflim`j`fe
k_XkZfd\jflk]ifdk_`jgfc`Zp6
The purpose of establishing a free economic zone in Al Duqm is not just because
it is away from heavily populated areas like Muscat, but to specify an area where
the government will be able to provide a perfect atmosphere to attract foreign
investment and to support the local business community by ensuring this region
adopts the best practices after providing this zone with modern infrastructure,
and good legislative and regulatory frameworks to ensure investment attraction
and stimulate trade movement in the region.
:Xepflgc\Xj\[iXnflkXifl^_g`Zkli\f]k_\j`q\f]`em\jkd\ekjXe[
k_\^li\jk_Xkk_\^fm\ied\ekn`ccjg\e[fek_`jqfe\Xjn\ccXjk_\
k_\j_fikXe[cfe^$k\idi\kliej6
The total government investment in Duqm is about RO 1.7 billion. There is a
need for additional allocations to prepare the region for the next development
stages. Preliminary estimates indicate that the Al Duqm Special Economic Zone will
contribute to about 5% of the non-oil sector of the GDP. It will also create 20,000
direct and indirect job opportunities for Omani youth.
N_XkXi\k_\dX`e[`]Zlck`\jXe[Z_Xcc\e^\jpfl]XZ\`e\jkXYc`j_`e^
k_\j\b`e[jf]`ek\^iXk\[gifa\Zkj6
There are many challenges that face us in this Duqm project. One of the challenges is
that Duqm is a hinterland and it is difcult to complete basic utilities in a proper way
and provide proper power for regulatory and business practices. Moreover, there
should be an authority in Duqm that works to maintain international standards
and trains Omani manpower preparing them for the new vacancies coming up in
this place. There are some solutions which we are still studying and some that have
already been applied.
N_Xk `j k_\ XYjfiY`e^ j`q\ f] k_\ \o`jk`e^ gifa\Zkj kf k_\ eXk`feXc
ZX[i\j Xe[ gifm`[`e^ afY fggfikle`k`\j ]fi Xcc [`jZ`gc`e\j6 @j k_\i\
Zffi[`eXk`fen`k_k_\D`e`jkipf]DXegfn\i6
Duqm authorities are preparing a plan for national manpower in collaboration with
the Ministry of Manpower.
Foreign investors,
we hope, will be
drawn to ODC
because of all
the incentives it
provides, not just
nancial ones.
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
24
;`[ pfl af`e Xep 8iXY fi `ek\ieXk`feXc le`fej kf Y\e\k ]ifd k_\`i
\og\i`\eZ\j`efi[\ikf\jkXYc`j_]iXd\nfibjXe[c\^`jcXkli\kf\ejli\
XkkiXZk`e^ZXg`kXc]ifd[fd\jk`ZXe[]fi\`^e`em\jkfij6
No, we didnt. Perhaps we will do that in the future.
N_XkXi\k_\]XZ`c`k`\jXe[`eZ\ek`m\jk_\j\Xi\Xjf]]\ikf`em\jkfij6
Even though all incentives will be assigned by the Board of Directors, we believe
that decisions related to foreign investments are affected by many things such as
location and business practices, infrastructure, and quality of life facilities, and not
just nancial incentives. Foreign investors should look at all these incentives and not
focus on nancial incentives.
Dfjk f] k_\ [`]Zlck`\j k_Xk ]XZ\ lgZfd`e^ `e[ljki`Xc Xi\Xj Xi\
Yli\XlZiXZpXe[efkY\`e^`e[\g\e[\ek`edXb`e^[\Z`j`fej%N_Xk[f
pflk_`ebXYflkk_Xk6
The Duqm authority was established under a Royal Decree which delegates
responsibility of the simplication regulatory procedures such as companies
registration, granting licenses, getting rid of bureaucracy and ensuring right decisions
as soon as possible for local business environment and in other Gulf countries.
N`cc k_\ gifa\Zkj le[\i `e[ljki`Xc Xi\Xj ^f le[\i
^fm\ieXeZ\ Xe[ hlXc`kp c\m\c ]fccfn$lg `ejg\Zk`fe Xj pfl [f n`k_
fk_\ii\cXk\[\jkXYc`j_d\ekj6
Yes, this will be done according to international standards ensuring limpidity,
accountability, and corporate social responsibility.
?fn [`[ mXi`XYc\j f] k_\ ^cfYXc dXib\k Zi`j`j fi i\Zfm\ip X]]\Zk
k_\ `e[ljki`Xc Xi\Xj [\g\e[`e^ fe k_\ Zlii\ekj f] gfc`k`ZXc ]fiZ\j
Xe[fk_\in`j\6
Foreigner investors will observe economic and political issues before investing
in the selected country. Oman has a good reputation globally and regionally of
political and economic stability over the four decades under the wise leadership of
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may Allah protect him. The foreign investment
has decreased in our region since the start of the global nancial crisis in autumn
2008 as there has been a lack of clarity of the global economy and instability in
some countries.
N_Xk`jpfli<oZ\cc\eZpj]fZljX]k\ikXb`e^Z_Xi^\f]Xm`kXcgifa\Zk
k_Xk`jXijk`eFdXe#Xe[k_\Y`^^\jkfe\`ek_\D`[[c\<Xjk6
Even though we face many difculties, the support that the Duqm authority has
been getting from all governmental agencies since 2007 and the strategies to face
difculties and challenges will help us overcome all challenges and reach the goals
and aims of His Majesty from this project. We can be a good model for other areas
within and outside Oman.
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
The advantages of Al Duqm Special
Economic Zone will contribute in establishing
an active area for trade and commerce
between Muscat and Salalah and establish
facilities for ship repair which includes two
drydocks and one oating dock.
25
26
The roles and responsibilities played by
the navy and coast guards is changing
in a signicant way. A few years ago,
navy duties were focused on deep
water operations and in naval wars, but
today, common tasks are the new order
that the navy follows. As a response to
this development, the Company makes
their products compatible with the
new responsibilities for the navy and
they also expand these responsibilities.
Besides traditional ship designs that
are allocated for specic tasks such as
hunting mines, fast patrol and guard
boats, frigates, supply and additional
ships, patrol ships are also designed to
operate in deep waters. The designing
of patrol ships must t within a
shrinking defense budget and there is
also pressure to reduce the operational
costs of the new vessels.
The challenges rely on capable,
effective, and reliable systems that are
selected carefully and t with adopted
marine standards. The result is a new
generation patrol vesselLURSSEN. This
vessel draws particular attention for
its effectiveness, good price, and high
degree of reliability.
@ek\^iXk`fef]jpjk\dj
Development and construction
companies have the ability and pay
great attention to integrate the
various systems. LURSSEN Company
hired a crew of experts to oversee the
integration of electronics and weapons
systems, and the C4, making it easier to
monitor various electronics companies
LURSSEN faces current and
future challenges of the
navy and coast guards.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
27
which supply marine or complex civilian ships. These companies are monitoring
the accountability of one party. LURSSEN Company builds ships and manages the
entire responsibility of appropriateness of integrated systems to their roles towards
the customer because LURSSEN can deliver a ship with all its systems working in a
typical and highlevel manner. Because every warship required by any navy or coast
guard has a unique quality, LURSSEN is developing and providing detailed solutions
tailored to customers requests with a minimum risk.
?`^_\jkc\m\cf]Yl`c[`e^Xe[[\j`^e`e^
LURSSEN is an established and leading name in building frameworks and medium-
displacement ships, and is also renowned for the techniques that are used in building
ships. Knowledge about ships frameworks and techniques used in building ships is
essential for the company which provides the ship and is required to deliver the ship
as quickly as possible with maximum capacity to be operated in deep waters.
The shipyard of LURSSEN Company has a good reputation. Its known for its fast turn
around time of building ships and high level of performance. These qualities are not
just specied for warships, but for all kind of ships that are made by the company.
For instance, large yachts, rescue vessels, and coast guard ships and other types
of LURSSEN ships are recognised by these two characteristics: high-speed and
maximum capacity to be operated in deep waters. The use of the latest techniques
of building civil and military ships sets LURSSEN apart and puts it in a leading
position in the global market.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Cf^`jk`ZXcJlggfik
LURSSEN Group of Companies is
a reliable partner known for its
experience in repairing, moderating,
and amending warships. These services
can be provided either in the facilities of
the company shipyard or for a customer
when it is required to enter a warship
into a drydock. LURSSEN has specialised
groups to provide these services and
these groups can do the work wherever
there is a ship. LURSSENs logistics
services branch provides the most
important materials of the ships life
cycle including brochures, information
recorded on CDs or electronic
memories, and spare parts, along with
technical and operational training.
The branch also runs a specialised
training center in Lemwerder which
provides classrooms, laboratories, and
comparison systems for the trainees.
Beside the basic training, the ofcers
also receive maintenance and tactical
training. The training centre also
provides training courses for
maintenance crews and shipyard
workers.
K\Z_efcf^pXe[Befnc\[^\
KiXej]\i
Customers willingness to gain inde-
pendence from foreign companies and
organisations is increasing, and there-
fore they are promoting and develop-
ing local industries. Customers are now
increasingly willing to participate in pro-
ducing local warships. LURSSEN sup-
ports these goals and aims to deliver in-
tegrated packages, precise and detailed
instructions about development and
construction methods. It also supports
the infrastructure system and trains lo-
cal workers and engineers.
K_\ Klib`j_ d`c`kXip j_`gYl`c[`e^
j\ZkfiZXii`\[flkgifa\Zkjnfik_
knfY`cc`fe[fccXij
Wajdi Ghonol, Minister of Defense, has
assured that the military shipbuilding
sector has grown in its levels of
designing and producing warships.
He also participated in a temporary
handover ceremony of the dinghy
Kara boron which was produced in
a private dockyard in Tuzla, Istanbul. He
mentioned that the development in the
shipbuilding sector helped the Turkish
Naval Forces Command and security
forces to work independently. Ghonol
assured they would soon start building
ships worth $2 billion in ve dockyards
in Tuzla. During the ceremony,
Rajab Boland Bustan Ihsanoglu, the
Commander of Education and Training,
handed over the dinghy Kara boron
ag to the dinghy leader.
Le`k\[ J_`gYl`c[`e^ :figfiXk`fe
dXel]XZkli\j knf j_`gj f] k_\
kpg\K`^\ikf8c^\i`X
During the exhibition of marine mili-
tary equipment in Petersburg, United
Russian Shipbuilding Company, with
the support of Ross Aoborun Export,
signed two agreements. One is a trans-
action for two Tiger ships to Algeria
(project 20382) and the other is to sell
three Molnia small ships to one of the
Commonwealth of Independent States
countries. This was announced by Ro-
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
28
29
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
man Trotsenko, Chairman of the com-
pany, to reporters on June 30, 2011.
Trotsenko also declared that, The
total value of contracts signed at the
exhibition reached $1.3 billion. He
also said that it was decided that United
Shipbuilding Company would sign
more agreements during this exhibition,
specically the agreement with Trasas
Company on June 30, 2011, in order
to buy ships electronic systems and
educational training devices.
It should be noted that the newspaper
Vdomesti published a press release that
night about Algerias determination
to buy Russian weapons worth $700
million soon. There were discussions to
buy three small warships Corvette that
have never been exported.
A source close to the leadership of Ross
Aoborun Export told the newspaper
Fedomesti that soon a contract would
be signed with Algeria to supply it
with three small warships, Corvette
20382 Tiger. A manager of a military
industrial organisation said that this
would take place in the coming months
as they worked hard to prepare for
it. This was reconrmed by a boss
in the shipbuilding factory Aantar in
Kaliningrad. He declared that there
is a high probability that this factory
will work on this contract, but the
spokesman for Ross Aoborun Export
did not comment on that.
Constantine Makienko, editor of the
magazine, Export Vorogenest (arms
exports), says that in the beginning of
2006, when Algeria signed the biggest
number of contracts with Russia about
weapons worth $7.5 billion in exchange
for the debt, they had discussions about
more contracts. At the same time they
discussed supplying Algeria with frigates
(project 11356 provided India with 3
frigates, also the Aantar factory built
3 ships according to a contract worth
1.6 million and 1 for Russia). The expert
added that Algeria started negotiations
with France about supplying it with
Fremm frigates, the most expensive
type of frigates, but in the end it took a
wiser decision to buy three small Tiger
warships costing $700 million.
Andrei Frolov, an expert in Analysis of
Strategies and Technologies Centre
says, that despite Tiger being cheaper
than frigates which have been discussed
in the beginning, the coming contract
with Ross Aoborun Export looks very
promising. That is because this is the
rst contract for exporting this type of
ships. Frolov adds, that it is facetious
that the Aantar factory will work
on that, not the northern factory in
Petersburg owned by Sergei Bogachev
in the past. Corvette ships (project
20380) built for Russian marines as
Tiger are designed according to that.
Frolov says that maybe this means that
there is no intention to handle northern
factory protable export contract. The
factory assets transmission belongs
to Bogachev, a former member of the
Council of the Russian Federation under
the supervision of United Shipbuilding
Company.
8iXYJ_`gg`e^Zfdgc\k\j
eXeZ`e^j_`gYl`c[`e^
X^i\\d\ek
United Arab Shipping completed the
agreement of nancing xed term
agreement costing $205 million (753
million dirhams) consistent with French
taxes system in partnership with Societe
Generale Investment Banking, as it is
the rst coordinator to the loan and the
assignee bank KSURE in order to nance
the purchase of two ships of the United
Arab Shipping Company of the class
A13 (capacity 13100 module for each
ship) out of nine ships of the same type
under construction currently. According
to a press release, nancing xed term
agreement looks to be the best nanc-
ing solutions that SG CIB can provide
to United Arab Shipping as delivery was
delayed for the two A13 ships.
The agreement consists of rent loan and
credit export loan covered by the Ko-
rean export credit agency. The CEO of
Customers are
more willing to be
independent from
foreign companies
and organisations
and they are
promoting and
developing local
industries.
30
United Arab Shipping, Joern Henjh said:
I thank SG CIB for their efforts to com-
plete this loan agreement which comes
under the French tax system. It is a con-
dent initiative to the strategic role played
by the United Arab Shipping Company
and promises future prospects.
In addition to its promotion of United
Arab Shipping in container shipping,
the A13 ships will play an important
role in improving the basic cost of
the United Arab Shipping Company.
Furthermore, these ships will be
provided with the recovery of thermal
emission technology that will make
them the most environment-friendly in
the market for shipping.
8Yl ;_XY` J_`g 9l`c[`e^ ^iflg
n`k_[iXnXc]ifdk_\[\XckfYlp
>\idXe9cfdmlj
The deal of Abu Dhabi Ship Building
preoccupation on civil vessels building
in German Blomvus, which is known in
warship building and owned by The Ger-
man ThyssenKrupp group, has failed.
ThyssenKrupp which is located in Isin in
western Germany has declared that the
Abu Dhabi groups withdrawal decision
is because of the difcult situation in
North Africa and Middle East currently.
ThyssenKrupp added that these
evolutions have doubled the commercial
temptations of the Arabic company to
complete this step. This threatens the
possible chances to conclude this deal
given the current situation in Middle
East. It also pointed to freeze the
situation as well as freeze plans for joint
cooperation between the company and
Abu Dhabi Ship Building in the warship
building sector.
Nevertheless, the Emirati group still
wants to preoccupy the civil vessels
building sector in HDW Garden
Company for shipbuilding which is
placed in Kiel city in north Germany.
ThyssenKrupp has announced its
intention to search through the next
18 months for a buyer for the building
sector civilian vessels in Blomvus. It also
announced its intention to continue
managing the warships building sector
in the company.
The Abu Dhabi groups preoccupation
deal was about to be completed after
the group agreed with ThyssenKrupp in
the autumn of 2009 on the deal initially,
which enables the Emirati company to
preoccupy the biggest share of yacht
building, ship repair, and machines
building sector.
According to ThyssenKrupp data, sales
price achieved by civil vessels building
sector in Blomvus, which has 1440
employees, has reached 476 million
Euro in the nancial year 20092010.
Both sides are planning to establish a
combined company for managing the
civil vessels building sector in Blomvus
and they have signed a contract in April
2010. This step was agreed upon by the
European Commission in August 2010.
The implementation of this deal has
been delayed because of many reasons
including the strategic partnership
of the Abu Dhabi group with UAEs
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
31
SPECIAL REPORT
The ups and
downs of the
ship repair
industry.
Offshore and shipping
repairs in ASRY
32
The ship repair industry, on a worldwide basis, is renowned for its cyclical trends.
It has a basic formulawhen shipowners/managers are making money, they are
willing to spend more on repair and maintenance. However, when freight rates
are down, minimum work is done. Classication Societies have become tougher
in recent years in their approach to ships being drydocked within class times,
with little hope of extensions being given. Also, charterers, insurance compa-
nies, Port State Control, etc., have all had an inuence on the state of the worlds
eet. This has led to the number of vessels being drydocked remaining fairly sta-
ble, but the contract value of the drydocking operation being reduced, in many
cases, quite considerably.
Another factor, which has affected the ship repair industry tremendously over
the recent years is the technical advances in hull-coatings, the main reason why
a ship drydocks. The intervals between drydocking have increased, especially in
the container ship sector, where ve-year intervals are now commonplace and the
move to even seven years is a distinct possibility. Many owners/managers still like to
see their ships out of the water every two and a half years, but the overall trend is
to drydock fewer times during a ships life cycle.
Ship repair is not at the top of its league when considering its technical expertise
many believe that we are still repairing ships in the same way as 20 (or even 50)
SPECIAL REPORT
FPSO conversion underway
in Keppel Shipyard
years ago. The yards, however, have
had to cope with additional health and
safety matters, a need for increased
productivity within the workforce,
which has been brought on by a need
to reduce costs, and a modern-day
requirement for additional security
while the ship is in drydock.
Many ship repair yards also operate in
the more lucrative conversion market,
especially those in South East Asia, such
as the yards in the Singapore area. This
is obviously a good road to take if there
are sufcient conversion contracts on
the open market. This is certainly the
case in the offshore industry, where
conversion from tankers to FPSOs and
FSUs, conversion of offshore support
vessels to increased capacity, deeper
water operation, etc., is currently
involving many shipyards. However,
cheaper prices are the main decision
criteria when deciding which shipyard
is to carry out the work. Therefore,
the Singapore area and some Chinese
shipyards are the main contenders in
this market sector.
For many shipyards in the western
hemisphere, where prices are higher
than both the Middle East and Far
East, the conversion industry can be
a step too far. To increase workforce
levels to a point whereby a yard can
compete in the conversion market is
only viable if the shipyard in question
can win sufcient contracts to keep
that increased workforce level busy.
If sufcient continual work is not
forthcoming, the additional costs of
an increased workforce will affect the
bottom line of the shipyard. In the case
of Singapore, all the large yards have
continual conversion work and have
had for the past few years-therefore it
is viable.
Ship repair costs play a big part in
shipowners decisions as to where
the ship is drydocked. The costs vary
considerably throughout the world.
Mainland China is most probably the
cheapest, followed by South East Asia
(the Singapore area) and the Middle
East. In Western Europe, the Baltic and
Balkan states offer the cheapest prices,
although still higher than Singapore and
the Middle East. The yards in southern
Europe are cheaper than those in
northern Europe, but northern Europe
is still cheaper than across the Atlantic
in the United States. Japan has a large
ship repair capability, but is unable to
compete on the international market.
One area of concern at a time when
shipbuilding yards are facing a tough
time with dwindling order books, is
the decision by some of these yards to
enter the ship repair industry as a viable
alternative. This is particularly true in
mainland China, where there has been
a massive construction period of new
shipbuilding yards. This move from
building to repair seldom works new
building mentality is based around a
project period of some 1518 months;
the ship repair mindset is 510 days.
Most owners/managers who use these
converted shipyards have fallen foul of
many problems, especially late delivery
dates.
To take advantage of cheaper prices, it
normally involves deviation which can
be costly. However, some trades such as
liner routes, ferries, coastal vessels etc.,
cannot involve themselves in deviation,
therefore local shipyards benet.
The cruise vessel market is a prime
example where deviation is not really
an option, and the need for the
shipyard to meet the repair schedule
is essential, with hungry passengers
awaiting the re-entry into service. This
has led to some yards specialising in this
market sector such as Germanys Lloyd
Werft (Bremerhaven), Blohm + Voss
(Hamburg), Italys Fincantieri (Palermo),
and Grand Bahama Shipyard (Freeport).
The main player in the Far East is
Singapores Sembawang Shipyard, part
of SembCorp Marine. The cruise vessel
repair market is one of the few where
delivery dates are as important as price.
Another specialised market is that of
LNG tanker repairs. The need for a
scope of technical expertise in repairing
33
SPECIAL REPORT
Intervals between
drydocking
have increased,
especially in the
containership
sector, and now
ve or seven year
intervals are now
commonplace.
34
cryogenic containment systems and
valve and pumping systems is essential.
The prime example of this is N-KOM in
Qatar, which has been built by Nakilat
to repair Qatar Gas vast eet of LNG
tankers. The yard is managed by
Singapores Keppel Offshore & Marine.
However, the Qatar Gas LNG tanker
eet only drydocks every ve years, so
N-KOM has had to look to other gas
tankers owners/managers and other
types of ships to increase its turnover.
The increase in market share by N-KOM
has led to Drydocks WorldDubai
(DDW-D) losing out, although there are
some LNG tankers still repairing at this
shipyard. Other specialised yards dealing
in this market include three in the
Singapore area Sembawang Shipyard,
Keppel Shipyard (which uses the former
Hitachi Zosen Benoi Shipyard as a LNG
repair facility), and Malaysia Marine &
Heavy Industries (MMHE), which has an
agreement with South Koreas Samsung
Heavy Industries (SHI) to market the
yards prowess in this market sector. A
number of LNG tanker operators also
utilise the Japanese repair market,
especially Kawasaki (Sakaide), Mitsui
(Yure), and Mtitsubishi (Yokohama) all
companies where LNG tankers are built,
for repair operations.
In the western hemisphere the main
players in this market are Spains
Navantia (Ferrol and Cadiz) and Frances
Sobrena (Brest). With an expected
dramatic increase in the number of LNG
tankers operating in the Atlantic basin
expected over the next 10 years, it is
expected that more shipyards will build
up their technical expertise to be able to
enter this lucrative market.
The number of yards on a worldwide
basis has remained fairly stable over
recent years, following a dramatic
reduction during the 70s and 80s. The
exception to this has been in the Middle
East where Nakilat has built N-KOM,
which started operations earlier this
year (2011) and the Oman Government
has built Oman Drydock Company
Duqm, which will open ofcially
early next year (2012) under the
management of South Koreas Daewoo
Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
(DSME). Both these shipyards have
two graving docks capable of
handling ships up to ULCC size,
adding a great deal of competition to
an area where only two large yards
have existed for some years ASRY
(Bahrain) and DDW-D (Dubai).
ASRY has been particularly successful
in replying to this new threat by
diversifying into two new markets,
while maintaining a healthy
involvement in the general repair
market the repair of offshore rigs
and structures and the building of
power barges for developing nations
or nations which have been hit by
natural disasters and have subsequently
lost power supply for some time.
ASRY has stayed away from the highly
competitive conversion market, many
believing this to be a very smart move.
The other area where expansion is
currently underway is the Singapore
area, where Jurong Shipyard (JSL),
part of SembCorp Marine, is building
a new shipyard off Jurong. This new
shipyard will have four graving docks,
all of which will be capable of handling
ships up to VLCC/ULCC size. It is not yet
known whether or not JSLs existing two
shipyards, on Shipyard Island and at
Tanjong Kling, will close when this new
yard opens. If the market is, by that
time, on the improving side, then it is
likely that one or both of these existing
yards will remain open.
The Singapore area, which includes
nearby MMHE at Pasir Gudang, remains
the centre of ship repair throughout the
world with four large shipyards and a
number of medium and small shipyards
in existence. The technical expertise of
these yards is second to none, which
is clearly seen by the number of large
scale, and very complicated offshore
conversion contracts completed and
underway at the various large ship-
yards. For a number of years, the Singa-
pore area, was losing its general repair
market to the much cheaper Chinese
yards, especially the bulk carrier mar-
ket, where steel renewals play a large
part in any repair operation. However,
redelivery dates from Chinese shipyards
have been suffering as many yards take
on too much work, and the reliability of
the yards in the Singapore area has pre-
vailed with many shipowners returning.
During the 70s and 80s, many
shipyards, especially those in the
western hemisphere, closed and
facilities were lost to redevelopment. In
the UK, in particular, some 23 graving
docks disappeared over a matter of
20 years. Nowadays, this is not the
case. For every shipyard that closes,
there appears to be a buyer willing to
take over. A prime example of this was
the recent closure of Malta Shipyards
LNG tanker repairs in N-KOM
SPECIAL REPORT
following years of union problems. Immediately Italys Palumbo Group, which
already had repair facilities in Naples and Messina (Sicily) took over.
Union problems were also behind the demise of the repair industry in Marseilles.
At one point there were four/ve repair companies renting drydock facilities from
the Marseilles Port Authority then, at one point, only one remained. Italys San
Giorgio del Porto has now moved in, to hopefully, make it work. There are some 10
drydocks available in Marseilles.
The most spectacular move by one shipyard group to expand into a new area was
seen a few years ago when Drydocks World Group (DDW) purchased Singapores
Pan United, which had facilities in Singapore and on the Indonesian island of Batam,
and Indonesias Leroy Engineering, which has a repair base and a rig-building yard,
both located on Batam. Although this massive expansion into new markets for
DDW was initially well founded, falling markets in both shiprepair and rig-building
have taken their toll on the Group.
So what of the future? The development in Singapore and the Middle East is now
well on its way, although there is unlikely to be any further expansions in these areas
other than the ones mentioned above. The Chinese yards remain the cheapest and
will, as time goes by, increase their technical expertise and thus gain more work,
especially in the general repair market. Brazil appears to be a country which needs
to increase its ship repair capability. With the number of eld expansions in Brazils
offshore industry, and the ever-increasing number of subsequent vessels operating
in the area, the current repair facilities appear inadequate.
There are also the upcoming IMO rules and regulations, especially those governing
emissions and ballast water treatment. Both these factors will inevitably involve ships
going into drydock for modication work. It is almost 100% certain that this type
of work will be carried out at scheduled drydocking times, although shipowners/
managers are renowned for leaving this type of work to the last minute.
There is also the offshore industry, which is currently expanding into new areas,
such as Brazil and West Africa, going deeper and going colder. All these factors will
result in existing ships and rigs in the offshore market requiring modications. This
type of work is generally carried out by ship repair yards.
SPECIAL REPORT
General repairs
in Lisnave
35
Experience
and expertise
leads to
success.
36
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
37
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
He sought to achieve success in a
faithful and able way. He welcomed
the existence of the Oman Drydock
Company as a new project and he
promised himself to be amongst the
honoured people in the company, the
place where he worked during the
establishment of the project. Since the
rst building blocks were put, he did
not spare any effort to reach his aim
by working hard and cooperating with
his colleagues in order to raise the
companys reputation internationally.
A dialogue was conducted with Sultan
Al Qurmushi, crane operator.
?fn [`[ pfl ]\\c n_\e pfl
af`e\[k_\ZfdgXep6
I was proud of it since the rst moment
the project was established. I witnessed
the rst moments of the company; the
bases, and drydocks as well as the
cranes, which are related to my current
eld of work. While I was in Korea. I
got the chance to learn more about my
work and how to operate cranes which
required complete accuracy in order to
avoid risk that may occur due to lack of
accuracy and caution.
N_Xk`jpfliXdY`k`fe6
I want to be a diligent employee, sup-
porting the company in order to raise the
companys reputation globally by coop-
erating with all employees and manag-
ers. I also want to contribute effectively
in the development of the project.
8epd\jjX^\6
I hope that this project gains attention
from the government to overcome
difculties by bringing in experts in the
eld of maintaining and add large ship
building services for the project which
will certainly contribute in increasing
the national income of the country.
JlckXe8cHlidlj_`[`[XgiXZk`ZXcZflij\`ek_\]fccfn`e^]leZk`fej1
(0.+ British Royal Air Force, National Air Base - Masirah Island (housing
services)
(0.- Oman Royal Air Force, Masirah Air Base - (re apparatus driver)
(0.0 Dubai Police United Arab Emirates trafc police (motorcycle)
(0/- Shell Oman Marketing Company Masirah Air Base (heavy driver)
)''* DynCorp Company Maintain American Royal Air Force Masirah Air
Base (heavy equipment distributor and supervisor)
)'(' Oman Drydock Company (heavy equipment operator)
?\gXik`Z`gXk\[`ej\m\iXcjfZ`XcXZk`m`k`\j1
Organizing National Day celebration
Participated in social and sports activities
Masirah Sports Club Chief for 4 years
JlckXe8cHlidlj_`
38
Oman Drydock Company believes that the
training and development tools which are
adopted to raise the HSSE awareness are those
which simplify the work process and support
the line management and the workforce
@jjXdAldX8cDlb_X`e`
Sr. Manager, HSSE
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Continuous
improvement
39
N_Xk `j k_\ d`jj`fe jkXk\d\ek f]
?JJ<`eFdXe;ip[fZb:fdgXep6
The health, safety and environment
department of ODC will advise and
assist the management in the fulllment
of its obligations, statutory or not, in
prevention of personal injuries and
provide a safe and healthy working and
living environment.
EXd\ jfd\ f] k_\ `dgfikXek
]XZkfijk_XkXi\gXikf]?JJ<6
Important factors that are part of HSSE
are human factors and ergonomics.
People are involved in all aspects of
work, which is why HSSE recognises the
importance of human factors in playing
a role to help avoid accidents and ill-
health at work. We in ODC have taken
a topic-focused approach to human
factors. This topic has proven to be the
key issue based on research, consultation
with industry and intermediaries, and
our inspection experience. The issues
under this topic include management
commitment, managing human failures,
stafng, fatigue and shift work, safety
critical information, and safety critical
communication. The topic also covers
human factors in design, procedures,
competence, organisational culture,
organisational change, maintenance,
inspection, and testing etc.
?fn[f\jF;:gifk\Zkk_\\em`$
ifed\ek`en_`Z_`k`jfg\iXk`e^6
For ODC, protection of environment
means control of pollution that could be
caused by our organisations operations.
That means we have to identify, evaluate,
and control such factors emanating
from our organisations activities that
can have detrimental effects on the
surroundings such as soil, water, and
ambient air. We in ODC are managing
the environment in our operating zone
as per the requirements of the Ministry
of Environment and Climate Affairs.
N_`c\ kXcb`e^ XYflk ?JJ<# ^`m\
jfd\ \oXdgc\j f] i\Z\ek gifa\Zkj
n_`Z_n\i\\o\Zlk\[n`k_q\ifCK@%
Some of the recent projects which ODC
has executed with zero lost time injury
(LTI) are ship repair activities carried
out on vessels such as Muscat-LNG,
Veronica, Delamas Nacala, Raysut,
Geelvinck, etc. We have conducted
training programmes for engineers
and workers and educated employees
through tool box talks, induction
programmes on safe work practices,
risk assessment, accident investigation,
reporting and recordings etc.
N_Xk Xi\ k_\ kiX`e`e^ Xe[
[\m\cfgd\ek kffcj k_Xk Xi\
X[fgk\[kfiX`j\XnXi\e\jjXYflk
?JJ<Xdfe^jk\dgcfp\\j6
In ODC, the training and development
tools that are adopted to raise the HSSE
awareness are those which simplify
the work process and support the
line management and the workforce.
Continual improvement is a clear goal
of ODC. Some examples of the training
and development tools are, reporting
and recording HSSE information,
incident investigation and analysis,
auditing, HSSE management system,
HSSE training and competence, risk
assessment etc.
8jX?JJ<j\e`fidXeX^\i#n_Xk\o$
g\i`\eZ\Xi\pflYi`e^`e^kfF;:6
I am a professional in HSSE engineering,
in a senior manager cadre. I advise the
management in setting up an effective
safety policy to suit our operations. We
have a goal of continual improvement.
Our HSSE-management systems are
set up to be in line with Omans Royal
Decrees, laws, and regulations. It will
in turn result in setting up our Health
and Safety Management System as
per OHSAS-18001/2007 and the
Environmental Management system
will be as per ISO 14001/2004.
N_XkZ_Xcc\e^\j[fpfl\og\Zk`e
k_\]lkli\6
We want ODC to become a world
class ship repair yard. Our yard needs
to grow sustainably. We need to
comply with an array of regulations at
international, national, and regional
levels. We operate in accordance
with international standards and
codes, OHSAS 18001/2007 and ISO
14001/2004 in order to become
a leading ship repair yard in the
short-term. We will train and encourage
our staff to get used to the system,
improve their working attitudes and
become good quality staff by nature
in the near future. Once everything is
in place we expect to see highly skilled
workers working in utmost safety in the
long run. With respect to environmental
management we will ensure that
the ship repair industry is a greener
industry and the local communities
will have much to gain as well. Thus,
we would like to end up with having
a HSSE system which has a continual
improvement system.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Helmet
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense to protect workers
from the dangers resulting from the work environment. They are dened as
preventive tools used for protection from injury during work time.
The Department of Health, Safety, Security and Environment is preparing
specications that determine the selection of PPE according to safety standards
used worldwide and in application of Article 18 of Chapter 3 of the Regulation
for measures of occupational safety and health issued by Ministerial Decree
(286/2008).
As provided in Article 8 of Chapter 2 of this regulation, workers should wear PPE at
work sites. Department of Health and Safety personnel are present on work sites to
monitor the use of PPE to ensure the workers safety.
There are many types of PPE used in the company such as helmets, protective
glasses for eyes, shielding from objects, volatile, or harmful rays, safety boots lined
with steel sheets to protect feet, ear plugs, protective clothing for the body and
other equipment shown in the picture above, which protect the body in case of
accidents that could result in harm to the worker.
Personal
Protective
Equipment
(PPE)
40
Goggles
Ear Plugs
Dust Mask
Full Body Harness
Gloves
Safety Shoes
We have noticed that some of our and
our Sub contractors employees are
utilizing the luggage compartment
provided at the rear part of the pick-ups
and other similar vehicles when they
want to travel. This method of travelling
is observed when the vehicles are
moving around in the yard and to and
fromtheDormitory.
This is a violation of a ROP regulation.
ODC traffic rules are also in line with
ROPregulations.
This method of utilizing a Pick-up or
other similar vehicle for transporting the
personnel is resulting in increasing the
Risk to a very high degree in terms of
Safety. Hence in the event of an
accident, the injury caused to a
personnel will be of severetype or even
mayresult inFatality.
Thefollowingpoints aretobefollowed
to ensure Safe Transportation of
Personnel:-
All personnel shall be transported using
transport vehicles such as Buses
No personnel shall be transported in
Luggagecompartments of vehicles,
All vehicleusers andits occupants shall
use Seat belts.
Do not over speed.
Utilizeluggagecompartment of these
vehicles to transport luggage, only.
Do not carry more than allowable number
of persons in the cabins of the vehicles.
Do not violateSafety Rules.
SAFETY ISATEAMWORK. PLEASETAKE
PART, SO WECAN AHCIEVEOUR
ZERO ACCIDENTTARGET
SAFETY ALERT
Safety Alert : ODC/HSSE/SA 002/2011
Health, Safety, Security & Environment
Oman Dry dock Company, S.A.O.C.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
41
T|ere Were leW cases reporled recerl|y
ol rec||ess ard ursale operal|or ol
lor|||lls. T||s resu|led |r caus|r sore
properly daraes ard rear-r|ss
lrc|derls. T|erelore We |ave core up
W|l| ar oojecl|ve or erp|as|z|r leW
|rporlarl salely l|ps lor sale ard proper
operal|or ol lor|||ll |r order lo preverl
lurl|er |rc|derls lror oe|r caused |r
lulure, |l l|e corcerred ersures l|al
l|ey ad|ere lo l|e reeds orou|l lo
allerl|or |ere. usae ol lor|||ll |r s||p
repa|r|r |rduslry |s very esserl|a| |r
order lo lac|||lale lrarsporl|r ol
raler|a|s lo var|ous |ocal|ors. T|ere
are severa| |azards assoc|aled |r l||s
process ol lrarsporl|r raler|a|s oy
us|r lor|||lls. A|| l|e lor|||ll operalors ol
our corpary are |ereoy rer|rded lo
oe rore v|||arl ard salely corsc|ous
W|||e operal|r |l lo avo|d erdarer|r
l|erse|ves or l|e|r co||eaues.
A lor|||ll |s ore ol l|e rosl darerous
equ|prerl |l operaled |rcorrecl|y, s|rce
|l causes rary acc|derls l|al erds up
W|l| lala||ly.
The fo||ow|ng |nstruct|ons are to be fo||owed to
ensure safe , proper operat|on & usage of
fork||fts.
For|||lls s|ou|d oe operaled or|y oy lra|red &
corpelerl persor.(va||d L|cerse lo|ders)
0o rol over|oad your lor|||ll.
0o reverse W|||e o|r doWr loWards l|e rarps
W|l| a |oad.
0o rol lrave| W|er l|e v|eW |s ooslrucled oy l|e |oad.
A oar|s rar s|a|| oe ass|red lo escorl l|e lor|||ll |r
order lo Warr ol|ers W|||e lrarsporl|r ou||y or |eavy
|oads.
0o rol over speed & r|suse lor|||ll. T|e speed ||r|l
lor l|er |s or|y 15Kr/| as per 00C slardards.
0o s|oW doWr ard sourd |orr W|||e approac||r
corrers , o||rd spols or l|e roads elc..
0o rol use p|ores ard rad|os W|||e operal|r lor|||ll.
No ore a||oWed lo r|de or l|e lor|||ll, excepl l|e
aul|or|zed operalor.
6$)(7< ,6 $ 7($0 :25. 3/($6( 7$.(
3$57 62 :( &$1 $+&,(9( 285
=(52 $&&,'(17 7$5*(7
SAFETY ALERT
Safety AIert : ODC/HSSE/SA 005/2011
HeaIth, Safety, Security & Environment
Oman Dry dock Company, S.A.O.C.

42
Machinery
Department
The machinery department is one of the
most important production departments
at Oman Drydock Company. This
department deals with the mechanical
equipment and devices such as boilers,
compressors, and propellers. There are
four main sections: main engine room
area, propeller and rudder area, main
deck area, and the machinery shop area.
As the heart of the ship, the main engine
room is the most important part in the
ship, so any work scope for repairs here
needs a specialist engineer and skilled
technicians and workers. In addition
to the main engine, the main engine
room contains equipment that supports
the operation of the main engine such
as boilers, compressors, water coolers,
and puriers.
With regards to the propeller and rud-
der area, the polishing of propellers is
the most form of repair work. In addi-
tion, taking the clearance of the rudder
stock, and repairing any damage in the
propeller shaft may also occur regularly.
In the main deck area, we deal with
repairs of the main deck cranes, main
deck winches, and anchor windlass. The
machinery shop consists of different
machines such as a lathing machine,
turning centre machine, universal
milling machine, drilling machine, and
hacksaw machine.
Saleh Rashid Mohammed Al Shuraiqi
FEATURE
44
History of
improvements
in ship making.
HISTORY
45
HISTORY
46
Ships are one of the most important and
most ancient means of travel. Every day,
thousands of ships cross the oceans, sail
along the beaches and travel between
lands through the water lines. In fact,
trade between countries depends a lot
on ships. Some worldwide items that
are transported via ships include: oil and
its products from gulf countries to the
rest of the world, wheels from Canada
to Germany, machinery from Germany
to Chile, copper from Chile to Japan,
Japanese cars to Europe and Australia,
corn from USA to Ethiopia, and coffee
berries from Ethiopia to France.
Different types of ships are used
to carry global trading. Big ships
carry oil, vegetable oils, and other
liquids. Refrigerated ships carry fruit,
vegetables, and meats. Hard and
dry cargo ships carry corn, pure iron,
and sand. General cargo ships carry
everything, starting from planes and
machinery, to zippers. Passenger ships
take passengers through oceans and
tourists all over the world.
For thousands of years, people have
used ship and sail to nd out more
about the secrets of the sea. Moreover,
they sailed to discover new places, to
facilitate trading, and to wage wars.
During the Middle Ages, Arabs were
known as ship builders, building ships
that crossed all the seas known at that
time. One of the most famous Arab
sailors was the trader Suleiman who
wrote down his voyages in 851, and so
did Ahmed Bin Majid and Suleiman Al
Mahdi. The Portuguese were the rst
European sailors who sailed from the
South Atlantic Ocean to the western
beaches of Africa at the end of the
15th century. In 1492, the Italian sailor
Christopher Columbus, who was
working for the King of Spain, reached
America crossing the Atlantic Ocean
using three small ships. In 1497, the
Portuguese sailor, Vasco da Gama
sailed from Europe to India searching
for spices.
Luxury ships sail to the Caribbean Sea
and the Mediterranean Sea and offer
the best types of food, exclusive accom-
modation, and entertainment activities.
In 1620, a ship called the Mayower
took the rst group of settlers to North
America from Europe. During the time
between the 17th and 19th centuries,
big ships of the East India Company
carried large amounts of silk and spices
and other items from the Far East
countries to Europe. In the middle of
the 19th century, sailing ships were
replaced by steam ships. The world
became smaller as steamboats and
ships crossed the oceans in shorter
times compared to the time spent when
using sailing ships. These ships reduced
the distance between countries and
people and allowed for economical
relationships between them.
8Yi`\]_`jkfip
The rst crude form of a ship was a
piece of wood used to cross a lake or
a river. People perhaps used their hands
as paddles at the time, and then learned
how to make a basic raft using tree logs
in one line tied together well. With
time, people discovered how to make
boats from tree logs after removing the
bark from it. Ancient man made boats
from other materials in areas which did
not have much wood. For example,
he stitched animal skins together and
shaped it as a big bag to be used like
a catamaran. When several catamarans
are tied together, they work as a buoy.
In some areas, people found that small
vessels tied to each other could make a
buoy. As you know, one big vessel can
be a boat for one person only.
In ancient Egypt and other places,
people made the rst generation
of buoys using sugarcane. In time,
Egyptians learned how to organise
them to make boats shaped like a
HISTORY
47
spoon. In 4000 BC, they learned how to make manual pushing ships. These ships
are long and narrow and were manoeuvred by a number of paddles. During the
next 1000 years, ship and boat making went through two main changes. In 3000
BC, Egyptians discovered that sheets (sails) can aggregate air to push their boats.
Furthermore, they could make boats using thick pieces of wood. After discovering
how to make boats using wooden boards, people started to make bigger ships
which could cross the seas.
D`c\jkfe\j`ej_`g$Yl`c[`e^
3000 BC The Egyptians invented sails and learned how to build wooden ships.
850 Arabs developed the sail ships and they used the Astrolabe and
compass, which enabled them to sail to India, Malacca and China.
1200 North European ships makers made the rudder of the ship at the back
of the ship.
1450 Mediterranean Basin ships makers developed fully equipped sail ships.
1807 The American, Robert Felton made the rst steam-propelled boat.
1818 Britain launched its ship, Vulcan, the rst ship built entirely of iron.
1819 The American ship, Savana, became the rst steam-propelled ship
that crossed the Atlantic Ocean even though it used its engine for only
105 hours. It has used the sails for the rest of the voyage which lasted
29 days.
1836 Britains Francis Pettit Smith and Swedens John Ericsson patented their
invention of the spiral paddle.
1838 Cyrus became the rst British ship regularly offering its services to cross
the Atlantic Ocean, using only steam-propulsion.
1897 Britains Charles Algernon Parsons proved the efciency of steam
turbines in his steamboat named Turbinia.
1910-1911 For the rst time, machinery ships were available to use.
1959 USA launched the rst trading ship with nuclear-wheel-drive, known as
the Savannah.
1980 Lengthening the ship Saoayz Giant to be the largest ship in the world.
It was 458 meters and was launched in 1979.
HISTORY
48
Thirty eight years ago, the construction for the worlds largest shipyard was
implemented under the strong initiative of the Korean government to further its
heavy & chemical industry policy. However, the construction was delayed due to
the oil crisis and the recession in the world shipbuilding market. In 1981, new
management (DAEWOO) was nally able to complete the historic project.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Company was challenged with numerous obstacles in
order to achieve growth in scale, advancement in technology, diversication of the
range of products, increase in protability, and harmony in labour and management
relations. Nevertheless, the shipyard prevailed through numerous challenges to be
reborn as a prominent shipbuilding and marine engineering company.
The outcome of the success was the direct result of the seless effort applied
by every employee at the shipyard under a common cause. Today, DSME
receives the highest recognition from its clients in producing the top quality
ships and offshore products of every kind by obtaining the state-of-the-
art production system technology, the advanced research and development
system, and the highly efcient management capability.
The view of DSME in Okpo
ACHIEVEMENT
Stepping towards a new age of
DSME with trust and passion.
49
ACHIEVEMENT
The Dandeung Mountain Demolition Project
was the biggest construction project in the
nation at that time. Over 500 tonnes of
explosive was used in the project.
The ground leveling project that involved
approximately 3.5 million square metres of
land was almost completed by 1976.
Goliath Crane was installed during the night to avoid
the temperature uctuation which would affect its
massive length and height.
A 130m Gallow Frame that was used as the
support column for the rocket launching facility
at the American National Aeronautics and Space
Administration was imported to install the cranes
leg and girder.
It was designed to lift 900 tonnes of cargo up to
91.4m height.
The construction to build the worlds largest
dock underway. In 1981, the No.1 Dock was
completed just before the shipyards dedica-
tion ceremony.
The dock was equipped with the worlds largest
Floating Cassion Gate. Its dimensions were 131m,
in length, 12m in width and 13.5m in height.
50
In a pioneering step to ensure convenience for all its employees, ODC in collaboration
with BankMuscat availed a special vehicle for banking services. This vehicle will
allow employees to withdraw money at their sites and accommodation locations.
The initiative is further evidence of the special care provided for all staff members
by the Company. The Company has material plans to start another vehicle at the
employee accommodation location.
ODC always seeks to provide its employees with services that meet their current and
future needs, and a healthy milieu to ensure better productivity.
Bank On Wheels
As part of the follow-up and supervision
on the development of the Special
Economic Zone, Yahya bin Said bin
Abdullah al Jabri, Chairman for the
Special Economic Zone Authority at
Duqm, made a comprehensive tour
at the wilayat of Duqm development
project. Al Jabri was received by M J
Park, CEO, Oman Drydock Company,
and Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al Salmi,
Deputy CEO, alongside with a number
of the company employees.
The visit programme included a
presentation by Qassim bin Ahmed al
Shizawi, Dirctor General of the Ports,
on the master plan of the Economic
Zone in the wilayat of Duqm in the al
Wusta Governorate. It also included a
documentary on the Oman Drydock
project, the major achievements made
since the launch of the project, the
human resources development efforts,
the marketing of the drydock services
at world markets, and the major HSSE
programmes adopted by the Company.
After the presentations, al Jabri toured
the drydock facilities and was briefed
by one of the company ofcials on the
departments and the progress made by
the Company till date.
Al Jabri also visited the oating hotel the
vessel Veronica owned by DEMS. Oman
Drydock Company has maintained the
vessel and converted it from Mona Liza
to Veronica to be one of the tourist and
recreational attractions in the drydock
project. The oating hotel is provided
with all facilities such as conference
halls, health clubs, restaurants, and
other hospitality facilities.
Al Jabri then visited Duqm Commercial
Port and reviewed the major
developments and progress made in
the implementation of the project.
It is worth mentioning that Duqm
Economic Zone receives governmental
ofcials every now and then to review
the progress made in the development
of the area which is expected to be a
hub for local and foreign investments.
ODC NEWS
Chairman for the
Special Economic
Zone Authority
visits Duqm.
51
Oman Drydock Company received its
rst Japanese ship, a vehicle tanker
named Princess VII which can lodge
4930 vehicles, owned by a large
shipping company in Japan. This was
the rst ship to undergo repairs at the
drydock. Since the startup of drydocks
operations in April, the Company has
delivered 32 vessels of various sizes.
The drydock construction began in
June 2008 on a total area of 1.2 million
square metres. It is an integrated project
for commercial ship repair services of
various types and sizes including large
ships and giants of the fourth and
fth generation container vessels. The
drydock can contain up to 600,000 tonnes
and can receive various types of ships
and provide services for oil and gas
tankers and merchant ships, container
ships and cruise ships, plus equipment
and other marine pieces.
Oman Drydock Company ended its yearly participation at the Kore Marine Exhibition
2011 in Korea. This participation is considered as a marketing and promotional
channel.
Specialised manufacturers, ships owners, and pioneers in this industry participated
in the exhibition. Staff gave a brief about the Company, its services, and strategic
location. The Companys stall was visited by a large number of visitors, owners of
ships, and specialists.
The Company also organised a conference where Korean journalists and
media professionals are invited in order to discuss the latest achievements of
the Company.
Oman
Drydock at
Kore
Marine
Exhibition
ODC NEWS
Oman Drydock
receives its rst
Japanese ship.
52
DljZXk
The Arab, regional, and international
media have shown great interest to
cover the developments of Oman Dry-
dock Company, especially those related
to ship repair and maintenance. While
participating at different international
marine exhibitions, the Company main-
tained communication with various
printed, audio, and visual media par-
ticularly those interested in business,
economy, ship repair, and shipbuilding.
The media team of the Company has
been available all the time to provide
visitors with the required information
and detailed presentation on the facili-
ties and incentives provided by Oman
Drydock Company. The team has been
very keen on advising potential custom-
ers of the pre and post-repair services as
well as the modern technologies used
by DSME in ensuring high quality serv-
ices for each customer. The team also
briefed visitors on the HSSE standards
and the priority given by the manage-
ment to this important aspect.
As a result of such intense interaction
with local, regional, and world media
that were immediately briefed on
the developments taking place at the
dock, the Company received calls from
media operating in many countries
such as Korea, other GCC countries,
USA, India, U.K, Norway, Japan, and
Singapore asking for more information
about the operations of the Company.
Some media persons have been invited
to the Sultanate to get a clear picture
about the various aspects of the project
and promote the same in their country
of origin.
The visiting media persons wrote many
features, reports, and surveys about
ODC and published them in the various
media publications they work for. They
presented valuable data and gures
about the future of marine industry in
the Sultanate and the great potential
that Oman Drydock Company has.
ODC NEWS
World media interested in
Oman Drydock developments.
53
Ofcial
inspection
of the
Drydock.
HE Sheik AbdulMalik bin Abdullah Al
Khalili, Minister of Tourism, visited the
location of the Company in Duqm as a
follow-up inspection visit of the current
tourism projects in Duqm particularly in
the Al Wusta region. ODC Deputy CEO,
Sheikh Khalil bin Ahmed Al Salmi, and
company senior ofcials hosted HE at
Al Duqm airport. After that, they visited
some of the government facilities.
HE also visited the location of ODC to
see the project facilities. Then, he visited
some of the tourist locations which
are considered beautiful and stunning
landmarks in Duqm known for its low
temperature. These locations are: Rock
Garden, under construction projects
such as the Crown Plaza Hotel, Duqm
City Hotel, and some projects run by
Omran.
Before that visit, HE Mohammed bin
Salim Al Tobi, Minister of Environment
and Climate Affairs, visited the location
of the Company in order to follow up
the environment situation in light of the
industrial boom taking place in Duqm.
HE met the ODC ofcials who provided
a visual presentation of the conformity
to the specications and environmental
requirements for the projects that
they implemented. HE also went on a
eld tour to learn more about systems
and environmental guidelines that are
implemented to operate the company
facilities and to follow up the stages
and the methods of hazardous waste
treatment and methods of disposal or
reuse according to latest standards of
environmental safety. HE also listened
to an explanation about the mechanism
of work followed in ODC at Duqm. It
is worth mentioning that the Ministers
visit delivered a strong message to
promote environmental concept in the
industrial companies and to consolidate
the concepts and requirements of
dealing with environmental issues at
all levels, to support the principles of
sustainable development and ensure
the safety of the environment, pollution
control and maintain the ecological
balance in the context of sustainable
development objectives.
ODC NEWS
54
ODC recently sent 32 engineering
trainees to grow their skills in
various elds, be it designing, quality
and control, electrical equipment,
maintenance, HSSE workers monitoring,
or other elds. The Company sent them
to the DMHI Company in Romania and
to the DSME Company in Korea for
six months. The programme included
theoretical and practical practices in
communication and teamwork. In this
report, we share some of ODC ofcials
and trainees points of views. Some
of the company staff visited various
departments of these companies in
order to share their experience with the
media departments and to keep up with
latest multimedia techniques in Korea.
B_Xc]Xe8c?XYj`#chief of the
training department
The Company strives to enhance em-
ployees in all elds whether in market-
ing, management, or HR. We care about
training our employees and thus send
them to conferences and workshops.
Because building and maintaining ships
is a new sector in Oman, we sent our
engineers and technicians to Romania
and Korea. They will enhance their skills
by increased contact with international
companies specialised in building and
maintaining ships. Sending them to these
places allows them to be involved in a
theoretical and practical atmosphere
and benet from all advantages of
these companies. They came back to
the Company with an improved
knowledge base so they can improve
the methods of working at the Company
as Omanising these positions needs more
experience and efciency. Our vision is
to dedicate all our nancial resources to
enhance the national HR efciency.
ON JOB TRAINING
Oman Drydock Company
Trainees in Romania and Korea.
55
8_d\[ Y`e ?ldX`[ Y`e IXj_`[
8Q`[`#design engineer
I ended my rst period of training in
Romania at the Design Department
in DMHI and benetted greatly from
working with the experts there. The
training period includes basic principles
and initial maps of ship design, as well
as terms and conditions that must be
executed when drawing the structural
maps, and how to take into account
the international rules to design a
ship. I also learnt about the advanced
computer systems and the basic steps
of maintaining ships and drawing the
damaged parts in order to rebuild them,
which is the main role that ODC will
undertake. We will continue the second
period of training which will be for
two months in Korea with the design
department of one of the leading
shipbuilding companies in the world,
DSME, in order to obtain knowledge
and gain the maximum advantage from
the experts for upgrading the work
levels at ODC.
<e^`e\\i@jdX`cY`eDl_XddX[
8cHXjXY`#quality and control
engineer
First, I would like to take this
opportunity to thank His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos bin Said, our leader as
well as Oman Drydock Company for
providing me with the opportunity to
gain knowledge, enhancement, and
training in the ship maintenance and
building eld. I gained vast knowledge
in my study eld at the training period
in DMHI in Mangalia. They motivated
me to continue in this unique eld. My
communication with the experts was
beyond expectation. They dealt with
me in a respectful way and they also
facilitated the policies followed in the
company for me, starting from variious
steps of work to customer satisfaction.
I am now at DMHI in Korea. Their way
of welcoming us indicates that the
company has knowledge in marine
engineering which they support with
high accuracy development technology,
hoping that we will benet which in
turn will benet our country.
<e^`e\\i8biXdY`eIXj_`[
8c?Xik_`#electrical equipment
department
This training is a practical application
of the rst part of the training that I
had done at the International Maritime
College Oman, Sohar, for three
months. In this period, I learned about
safety priorities, personal protective
equipment, and about shipbuilding
priorities and stages. I also studied the
different classications of ships and
I learnt about electronic equipment,
control panels, main switches, cables
types and classication, structured
cabling, and power standards that
must be followed in accordance
with international regulations in the
maritime sector. I was familarised with
the contents of the most important
room in the ship, the engine room,
which is considered the core of the
ship. Moreover, I got a general idea
about some of the other departments
duties through frequent eld visits to
the companys drydocks. Of course,
I cannot forget other skills that I was
able to enhance during my training:
personal leadership, communication
skills, time management, punctuality,
and teamwork.
AXY`iY`eQX`[Y`e8c`8cJ_Xdj`#
production support engineer
maintenance section
The training I received was very
ON JOB TRAINING
The trainees:
gaining practical and
theoretical experience
from the workplace.
56
benecial with detailing of all techni-
cal stages and operations, equipment
and materials used in shipbuilding
and maintenance in details, mainte-
nance of equipment and materials,
understanding the ways and facilities
to support operations, and producing
and insuring continuous growth. This
course included theory and practical
operations with experts and engineers
richly experienced in this eld. I thank
Oman Drydock Company for this op-
portunity to benet and learn from
experts about shipbuilding and main-
tenance.
JlckXeY`e?ldff[8cDXhYXc`#
rigging engineer
I would like to thank DMHI Company
for its efforts to design this course and
for what it provided to the trainees
by guiding them to nish this course
successfully. I thank Oman Drydock
Company for giving me this great
chance to train in the biggest
companies in shipbuilding and
maintenance. A special thanks to Dr.
Sulieman Al Kharoosi and Mr. Khalfan
Al Kharoosi for their efforts towards
creating this course. The training course
in Romania was fortunately successful.
I learned a lot about shipbuilding and
maintenance. The relationship between
trainers and trainees went beyond
training. My best wishes to the outtting
team and all trainees for their second
course in Korea in DSME Company and
continued success to ODC.
8c`?ldX`[Df_Xdd\[8c
B_Xd`j`#HSSE supervisor
I would like to thank Oman Drydock
Company and the people in charge
for their efforts during training. I have
passed the rst half in DMHI Company
for shipbuilding and maintenance in
Romania. The second half, which is cur-
rently on, is in South Korea in one of
the biggest companies in shipbuilding in
the world, the DSME Company. I know
more about systems and techniques
used in shipbuilding and maintenance
thanks to this training course. In special
regards to HSSE, I gained experience
in risk management in the workplace,
health and safety regulations, environ-
ment protection and other activities we
aim to apply and develop in ODC to be
one of the biggest companies in ship-
building and maintenance.
Df_Xdd\[Y`eIXj_`[Y`e
PXXhffY8cNX\c`#control
engineer ships production
As a part of my specialisation in
planning and control of the shipbuild-
ing process from receiving the build-
ing agreement contract to the day
of delivery, and after nine months of
internal and external training in Ro-
mania and South Korea, I can say
that I learnt a lot and I gained a lot
of experience in shipbuilding and
maintenance. I would like to thank
the Omani government represented
in ODC for this great chance. Plentiful
thanks to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
bin Said, for his great efforts and contin-
uous support to the people of Oman.
<e^`e\\i DffjX Y`e EXjj\i Y`e
Df_Xdd\[8cFi]p#ship structures
engineer
It is a pleasure to see ODC work-
ing hard to develop its new employ-
ees and compete with other big
companies through intensive training
courses within and outside Oman. The
course in DMHI proves that, and DSME
will continue this training course in
South Korea. The Company is doing
everything to complete this programme
and prepare all the engineers and su-
pervisors for their responsibilities. I
spent two months in Romania as a
ship structure engineer and learned
extensively about the ship body.
Through intensive training, I was able
to pick up a lot from staff and experts
about process capabilities in the ship-
building industry, regarding ship main-
tenance. This is the most difcult part
of work and the training outside Oman
created a strong sense of teamwork
which improves production and puts
the Company in the league of the big-
gest marine companies in the world.
PXjj\i8c`8c8cXn`#mechanic
supervisor
A big thank you to ODC for this
training course in Romania. I would
like to say that it was well organised
and I was provided with everything I
needed; housing, food, transportation,
as well as healthcare. This course has
given me a professional experience
and helped improve my English while
communicating with staff members.
I would like to mention that I gained
much experience and work-related
information, for example, installation
and repair of machine parts, installation
of fans, balancing the marker when
the ship is at sea, and examination of
capable shift and ship waves. I learnt a
lot about all mechanical section parts
and how to work with each part. I will
continue my course in South Korea for
two months and I expect to learn much
ON JOB TRAINING
Sudoku
Solutions
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LEISURE
Quick crossword
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( Artwork (8)
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destroyed by God (5)
(' Cold, coated confection (4,3)
(( Cautious (6-6)
(* Coped (4,2)
(+ Small drink (6)
(. Person in charge of
a school (12)
)' Francis Albert, 1915-1998 (7)
)( Openwork fabric
ne mesh (5)
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)* Sleigh-puller (8)
;fne
( Blast of air (4)
) Mechanical man (7)
* Ovoid nursery rhyme
character (6,6)
+ Human tail (6)
- Ever-expanding middle (5)
. All (8)
/ Indonesian monster lizard
(6,6)
() Accent (8)
(, Sign (7)
(- Landed property (6)
> I 8 G ? @ : J K N < <
L E L F B 8 M
J F ; F D : ? F : @ : <
K I G : D J I
J F = K C P J F = K C P
< @ P O ; F
D 8 ; < ; F E F > > @ E
G L < ; < <
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57
58
Greeting
someone
in
Oman.
Greetings depend largely on the gender
of the person you are meeting. Men
typically greet men by saying,
As-salaa, aleikum (peace be upon
you), and the response is Waaleikum
as-alamma (and upon you be peace).
This may either be accompanied by a
light handshake (not rm, as in Western
nations), or a kiss on the nose or both
cheeks. You may also place your right
hand on your heart after shaking hands.
Women greet other women in a similar
way, usually shaking hands or kissing on
both cheeks. Men greet women with
words only. Usually no physical contact
is made. Women may offer their hand,
but it will be covered with their sleeve. If
you are a man meeting a woman, wait
for her to extend her hand. If she does,
take it. If not, a small bow is perfectly
respectful. In this deeply religious
city, women should avoid making eye
contact with new male acquaintances.
>i\\k`e^#k_Xeb`e^#Xgfcf^`j`e^#_\cg`e^
>ff[dfie`e^ Sabah el khair
>ff[[Xp Youm saaed
>ff[\m\e`e^ Masaa el khair
>ff[e`^_k Tosbeh aala khair
>ff[Yp\ Ma al salama
?`]fife\dXe Marhaba!
?`]fidfi\k_Xefe\g\ijfe Marhaban bekom
N\cZfd\ Ahlan wa sahlan
N\cZfd\ Marhaba!
?`]fife\dXe Marhaban bek
?fnXi\pfl6 Kaifa halok?
Gc\Xj\ Law samaht
K_Xebj Shukran
K_Xebpfl Shukran lak
K_Xebpflm\ipdlZ_ Shukran jazeelan
Dpgc\Xjli\XjXi\gcp]fiK_Xebpfl Afwan
<oZlj\d\ Law samaht
@djfiip&@Y\^pfligXi[fe Ana asef/afwan
?\cg Sadni
:flc[pfl_\cgd\#gc\Xj\6 Hal beamkanka musaadati, min fadlek?
?\cgd\gc\Xj\ Sadni - law samaht
LEISURE
59
OATMEAL DATE BARS
makes a 9 square pan
Recipe
LEISURE
@e^i\[`\ekj1
1 cup of white our
1 cup of raw oatmeal
2/3 cup of packed brown sugar (or 1/2 cup regular sugar plus 1/4 cup of date
syrup)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup of butter or margarine, softened
1 cup of packed, chopped, pitted dates, 1/2 cup of water, and juice of one lemon
(or 1 cup of date paste and 3 tablespoons of butter)
1/3 cup of chopped nuts (optional)
Make the lling by boiling the dates with the water for about 5 minutes or
until bubbly and soft. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice and nuts.
(Alternatively, heat the date paste with the 3 tablespoons of margarine and nuts.)
In a mixing bowl, combine the our, oatmeal, sugar, baking soda, and baking
powder. Cut in the margarine until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Press
two-thirds of the our mixture in a 9 x 9 baking pan. Spread the lling over it.
Sprinkle the remaining our mixture over the top. Very lightly press the top. (You
want the top to be aky, so press only to help the crumbs stick on once cooked.)
Bake in a 350 F oven for about 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden. Cut into
squares and serve warm or cool.
60
Management Tips
One who thinks that he
can manage the whole
workforce is wrong.
Management is a shared
process.
Dont treat your employees
like children; rewarding
them for good work, and
punishing them for their
mistakes. Understand the
reasons for mistakes and
nd better ways to handle
a problem to enhance
overall performance.
The process of choosing
a Board of Directors
should be accurate and
effective.
Dont judge anyone
before sitting them down
and understanding the
situation fully.
If you nd yourself
wanting to get around
your work plan, dont.
You need to reassess
and update your plan as
needed.
One who believes in
management by force
is wrong. It is easier
to manage a team
through teamwork and
compassion.
Support can be positive,
but that alone cannot
make progress.
The manager should
have a team doing the
work. Depending solely
on one person is not
healthy and compromises
the quality of work.
Dont be tied to
traditional ways if it
is pulling you back
from creative growth.
Creativity is one of the
job functions of a team
leader.
A manager without good
planning skills is a failure
to the company. Do not
start any work without
having a plan and do not
expect unplanned job to
succeed.
To put the right man
in the right place is
the responsibility of
management.
For instance, a person
specialised in chemistry
works in the PR
department. This should
not happen.
Intimidating employees
can get the job done,
but motivating them is
a more efcient way of
improving work quality.
Silence does not mean
agreement. Most of the
time people reject an
idea without saying a
single word. Keep the
doors of communication
open.
Dont prioritise work
based on a single view.
Marking your priorities
means constantly
concentrating and
reviewing them, not just
writing them down.
Dont allow equality to
override justice specially
when it puts work quality
in a compromising
position.
Avoid temporary
convenience and delayed
decision-making.
Do not make plans for
work without actual
application, this is the
way to failure. Mark your
business plan as the basis
for all your movements,
actions, and decisions.
Working towards a future
vision for work proves that
a leader is successful.
61
PHOTO TALK
Farewell Party for Charlie
62
Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs visited
Oman Drydock Company
HE Yahya bin Said Al Jabri, the minister of the Special
Economic Zone at Al Duqm visited Oman Drydock
Company
PHOTO TALK
63
Oman Drydock Company participation in kormarine
exhibition 2011 (Busan)
PHOTO TALK
Fourth International Forum for Investment in free
zones and developing areas, titled Oman, land of
opportunity, organized by the Public Establishment
for Industrial areas
64
PHOTO TALK
Oman Drydock Company trainees in Romania and Korea