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The NFC contract includes the performance of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for the five vessels, two of which are Austal-built 65 metre high speed vehicle ferries “Shinas” and “Hormuz”, which were delivered to the Sultanate of Oman in 2008. Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, commented that the NFC contract renewal cements Austal’s position as a major provider of worldwide vessel maintenance and management services, and boosts the Western Australian company’s presence in the Middle East. “Having built over 220 vessels for defence and commercial operators worldwide, including 20 vessels currently operating in the Middle East, we have developed good relationships with many operators throughout the region, and in June 2011, opened a regional sales office in the United Arab Emirates,” said Mr Bellamy. With established Service Centres in Oman, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia and the USA, Austal has completed an extensive range of service jobs, with many notable contracts being for non Austal-built vessels. The NFC maintenance contract will be performed at Austal’s Middle East Service Centre in Muscat, Oman, which has been in operation since August 2008. Austal employs highly skilled tradespeople from all over the Middle East who are supplemented with experts from Austal’s Henderson shipyard, in order to achieve the underlying goal of the Vessel Maintenance Service Agreement, which is to establish a high speed vessel maintenance industry in Oman. Over 50% of Austal’s staff at the Middle East Service Centre are Omani nationals and each staff member participates in an extensive training program aimed to allow them to take over and ultimately manage the complete vessel maintenance program by the end of the five year frame work contract term. This training program has included courses in Spain, Oman and Australia, which are all aimed at producing world-class high speed maintenance personnel. Austal press release |
Renewed Service Contract Boosts Austal's Presence