King Abdulaziz Port Repairs Offshore Rigs
- Pipeline
- Saudi Aramco News
- Industry News
Author: Aramco ExPats
Released 19 August 2006
The King Abdulaziz Port in the Eastern Province is now able to repair offshore drilling rigs. The port is encouraging rig operators to have repairs and overhauls done in the Kingdom instead of sending their rigs overseas.
"Repairs of drilling rigs have been a problem for local operators who spent a lot of money to have their rigs towed and repaired in neighboring ship repair yards like those in Bahrain. Now we have the facilities and capabilities right here," said Hassan Abouraya, a consultant on marine business development for Zamil Shipyard.
"With our ability to repair offshore drilling rigs, the Kingdom will be attracting other rig operators in the region. Offshore rigs operating in Saudi oil fields and neighbouring Gulf countries will be saving time and money by using our repair facilities," said Zamil Al-Zamil, president of the Zamil Operations and Maintenance Company (Zomco), owner of the Zamil Shipyard.
Zamil undertook the first repair of the offshore drilling rig ENSCO 96 last month, which is currently leased out to Saudi Aramco.