SAFEEN Drydocks has expanded its ship repair capacity with a new 230-metre floating dock at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi.
According to the company, the facility is the largest floating dock in the UAE.
The dock has a lifting capacity of 21,000 tonnes. It will handle ocean-going commercial vessels and rig repair projects.
The floating dock is positioned alongside 1,000 metres of quayside at Zayed Port.
SAFEEN said the additional capacity will allow it to handle a wider range of repair, maintenance and refurbishment projects.
It will also provide greater scheduling flexibility and help reduce vessel turnaround times.
The facility will support the maintenance of Noatum Maritime’s deep-sea fleet. This is expected to reduce downtime and improve fleet efficiency.
SAFEEN Drydocks currently operates more than 170,000 m² of shipyard facilities across Khalifa Port and Zayed Port.
The company is a joint venture between AD Ports Group and Premier Marine Engineering Services.
“The addition of the floating dock marks an important step in the continued expansion of SAFEEN Drydocks’ capabilities,” said Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO – Maritime & Shipping Cluster at AD Ports Group.
He said the investment will allow the company to serve larger vessels and provide more flexible maintenance services.
The Abu Dhabi investment follows the recent acquisition of Balenciaga Shipyard in Spain.
The Spanish facility includes drydocks, a 105-metre slipway and a 22,385 m² factory equipped with automation technology.
Together, the investments expand Noatum Maritime’s ship repair and maintenance capabilities in the UAE and Europe.
