Offshore staff
DUBAI, UAE – Saudi Aramco outlined its offshore support plans at the recent Seatrade Middle East Maritime exhibition, part of Dubai Maritime Week.
In an address given on behalf of Aramco’s marine department manager Bader Ghouth, Fehr Khomais, acting marine planning, programs and support services unit supervisor, said the company’s current expansion in operations offshore such as theKaran, Arabiyah, and Hasbah field developments will generate opportunities for technologically advanced workboats to maintain reliable services.
In parallel, Aramco will continue to provide support services to its longer-established offshore oil fields: Safaniyah, Marjan, Zuluf, Abu Safah, and Berri.
The company has begun using 16 platform supply vessels, all equipped with a DP-II dynamic positioning, to optimize the supply service to rigs and barges operating on its offshore fields.
Requirements include larger and more powerful docking tugs, self-propelled jackup barges, offshore security patrol vessels, DP-II diving service vessels, state of the art anchor handling vessels, and large offshore maintenance and accommodationvessels.
The building of an integrated shipyard in Ras Al-Khair should lead to development of a capability to support all phases of shipbuilding and repair, Khomais added.
In addition, Aramco’s offshore developments and upgrade projects will lead to increased demand forrecruitment and training of manpower specialized in this type of work.
The company is addressing this issue by making use of training courses provided by King Abdulaziz University’s Faculty of Marine Sciences.
11/17/2014
