UAE Shipyard Begins Operations as Albwardy Damen
Albwardy Marine Engineering and Damen Shipyards Sharjah have officially brought both brands together under one umbrella. Under the new name, Albwardy Damen, the United Arab Emirates-based shipyard will continue to construct newbuild steel and aluminum vessels as well as provide the same ship repair services to its marine and oil and gas customers in the Middle East.
Albwardy Marine Engineering was founded in 1978 and has been a joint venture with Damen Shipyards Group since 2008. In 2014 the official opening of Damen Shipyards Sharjah took place. Albwardy Damen has facilities in three UAE locations: Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. In addition to shipbuilding and repair, the company also provides floating repair and diving services.
According to the shipyard, the change represents the venture’s drive to maximize the efficiency of its operations and enhance its leading position during these challenging times for the maritime industry.
“Bringing both brands together is a logical next step for us,” comments Lars Seistrup, Managing Director of Albwardy Damen “We aim to be the best regional shipyard for building and repairing niche tonnage, and with our expansion in Dubai we are positioning ourselves in the best possible way to serve our clients in the region during these challenging times.”
This year Albwardy Damen also plans to construct a new office and workshop facility in Dubai Maritime City.