Saudi Aramco is firming up its plans for a giant shipyard at Ras Al-Khair, and has hired Saudi Archirodon and Huta Hegerfeld to complete the project’s dredging, reclamation and marine structures.
Saudi Aramco signed a contract with a consortium comprising Saudi Archirodon (profile) and Huta Hegerfeld (profile) for dredging, reclamation and marine structures for King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services in Ras Al-Khair.
The contract is the first major undertaking for the maritime complex where contractors will conduct dredging and reclamation of approximately 37 million cubic meters of fill, in addition to ground improvement over an area of 7.4 million square meters.
The contract will also provide for constructing 4,500 linear meters of concrete quay walls and wharves, in addition to 12,000 linear meters of rock revetments and breakwaters to protect the integrity of the complex.
“It is an important milestone for King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services, the largest of its kind in the region.” said Ahmed Al-Sa’adi (biography), Saudi Aramco’s Senior Vice President for Technical Services.
Execution of the initial phase of the contract will be completed by 2020. It is instrumental for the whole program as it will prepare the project’s land for subsequent construction of a dry dock and ship building and maintenance facilities.
The Complex was inaugurated in November 2016 by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Ras Al-Khair, near Jubail in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
The facility will offer quality, efficiency and economies of scale, and when completed will offer vessel and rig build, maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
Archirodon has its origins in Greece and has had a strong presence in the Middle East for decades; Jeddah-based Huta Hegerfeld has extensive experience in Saudi marine construction and infrastructure projects.