Strong interest in green shipping projects drives BWTS and scrubber retrofits at specialist Qatari shipyard
Located in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) is well positioned to service the needs of a wide range of marine and offshore vessels, including the world’s largest LNG carriers.
Since it opened in 2010, N-KOM has delivered in excess of 1,000 marine and offshore projects, 25% of which are for LNG carriers. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, N-KOM reports it delivered more than 10 LNG carrier repairs in a safe, reliable and timely manner. Established as a joint venture between Nakilat and Keppel Offshore & Marine, the shipyard has remained fully operational throughout the global pandemic, with enhanced health and safety measures in place to safeguard the health and safety of its employees, contractors and clients.
With the growing global demand for greener shipping and compliance requirements with IMO environmental regulations, N-KOM continues to see a strong interest for ballast water treatment system (BWTS), fuel systems modification and exhaust gas cleaning system retrofits over the past year. To date, N-KOM has completed over 20 green shipping solutions projects – BWTS installations and scrubber retrofits – for various types of vessels, such as LNG and LPG vessels and very large crude carriers (VLCCs).
In 2020 alone, the shipyard carried out five BWTS installations for LNG carriers.
Situated within the world-class Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Bin Jaber Shipyard complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City, N-KOM’s facilities include three Q-Max-sized docks, two graving docks and one floating dock, berthing capacity of 3,150 m and specialised cryogenic workshops.
“In 2020 alone, the shipyard carried out five BWTS installations for LNG carriers”
One of the OEMs stationed at the shipyard is engine manufacturer STX Korea, which allows it to provide special attendance support for main and auxiliary engine overhauling and maintenance work on vessels calling for repairs at the yard, during anchorage and in voyage.
N-KOM reports it has secured a good number of vessel repair, routine drydocking and retrofit projects in the coming months. The yard is fully prepared to carry out all client requirements from various international shipowners and ship managers for a wide range of vessel types, including gas carriers, oil tankers, VLCCs, and offshore vessels.
Recent milestones at N-KOM include a major fabrication project as part of its contract for Qatar Petroleum’s Bul Hanine Redevelopment (Phase B), which was awarded by McDermott Eastern Hemisphere Limited (MEHL). One of the most complex offshore projects undertaken at N-KOM to date, the scope involved the fabrication of several large-scale offshore structures such as a topside, offshore jacket, piles, deck extensions, subsea piping spools and subsea valve skids, all constructed on-site. The 877-tonne topside fabricated by N-KOM was the first and largest to be constructed in Qatar.
N-KOM facilities
Two dry docks: 360 m x 66 m, 400m x 60 m
Floating dock: 405 m x 66 m, lifting capacity: 125,000 t
Piers and quays: 3,150 m, with 15 cranes, lifting capacities 30-100 t
Workshops: steel, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation, and pipe
cryogenic cleanrooms
Large warehouse
Small vessel repair facility with floating jetty, dry berth, four 25-t tower cranes
Mobile hoists: 300 t and 1,100 t
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