The project's first phase calls for the construction of two graving docks, one floating deck of panamax size, six wet berths with a total length of 2,300 metres and a minimum depth of 11 metres, and extensive lay down and fabrication areas alongside the graving docks. Construction of the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and cost about $430 million.

Reclamation of the site for the new ship repair yard will begin shortly. The 50:50 joint venture of Belgium's Jan de Nul and Royal Boskalis Westminster of the Netherlands will carry out the work as part of its contract to expand Ras Laffan port. (MEED 25:11:05). The UK office of Royal Haskoning is carrying out initial design work for the marine structures on the ship repair yard site.

Once completed, the facility will primarily service the bulk of Nakilat's fleet of LNG carriers. It will also repair other large vessels trading into the Gulf, convert tankers into other vessels such as floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) ships and build small ships such as offshore supply vessels. Nakilat has also acquired enough land for future expansions. In phase 2, it plans to build fabrication and maintenance facilities to serve the local offshore oil and gas industry including supplying jack-up drilling rigs, process modules and components for petrochemical and industrial plants. www.meed.com/industry