Nakilat and Damen Shipyards Group join forces to produce patrol boats, luxury yachts

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) is joining forces with Damen Shipyards Group for the construction of high-value vessels, such as tugs, coastal patrol boats and luxury yachts at the state-of-the-art shipyard in the Ras Laffan.

The facility is expected to roll out roughly 15 vessels a year destined for the local as well as the region’s markets and beyond.

The shipyard which is expected to commence operation in early 2010 has been designed to produce a wide variety of vessels, such commercial vessels, including tugs, offshore supply vessels, coastal tankers and ferries; naval and coastguard vessels such as patrol boats and corvettes and luxury yachts. Nakilat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Damen Shipyards Group to form a joint venture for the purpose.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah and the President of Damen Shipyards Group, Kommer Damen signed the agreement. Also present at the ceremony was J G van Vloten Dissevelt, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands to Qatar.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Attiyah said the MoU is expected to evolve into a full JV very soon.

He said the vessels to be produced at the facility were intended for local as well as for other customers in the Middle East and beyond. 'It is an option for any customer, either from Qatar or elsewhere. We are not building this for a specific project,' he said.

As for potential markets for the vessels, Damen Shipyards Group has markets worldwide for such vessels. Damen can build good quality ships in Qatar and export them either to countries in the Middle East and beyond.

In the military sector the largest ships that Damen builds are about 150 meter length, but that for the market in Qatar the vessels will be slightly smaller at between 90m-100m length.

Nakilat Managing Director, Muhammad Ghannam said Nakilat’s main interest is in commercial vessels, such as tug boats and supply vessels for the offshore structures which are in high demand in Qatar and the region.

As for the marketing of the products, he said: 'Damen has great markets and organisation worldwide. We can market our products not only in Qatar and the region, but worldwide.'

Damen Shipyards Group