New Ras Laffan Shipyard
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Emir of the State of Qatar, Nakilat inaugurated the first three phases of its new shipyard in the Port of Ras Laffan. The shipyard has been designed for the repair and maintenance of large LNG carriers and a wide range of other vessels, including superyachts which will be constructed completely undercover.
Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (known as “Nakilat”, which means “carrier” in Arabic) is a Qatari-listed shipping company established by the State of Qatar to own, operate and manage LNG vessels, and to provide shipping and marine-related services to a range of participants within the Qatari hydrocarbon sector. Nakilat has formed a Joint Venture (“JV”) with Keppel Offshore & Marine – a global company in ship repair and conversion. This JV, Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM), operates the ship repair facilities, known as “Phases 1 & 2?, of the Nakilat Shipyard.
A second JV has been established with Damen Shipyards Group – who design and construct specialist ships. This JV, Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ), manages the ship construction facilities, known as “Phase 4? of the Nakilat Shipyard. Phase 4 has been designed to build high-value ships, including commercial vessels as well as superyachts.
The Shipyard is located on a 110 hectare site, approximately 8km offshore along the southern breakwater of the expanded Port of Ras Laffan. A “Project Task Force”, established by Nakilat, was responsible for managing the design and construction of the new Shipyard, from concept to start-up. Operation of the Shipyard commenced just over two years after start of construction. Key features of the Shipyard include two large dry docks: 400m long x 80m wide; and 360m long x 66m wide. There is also a massive ship construction hall, 270m long x 65m wide x 45m high, capable of building four 120m long vessels simultaneously, completely undercover.