With an intention to offer local vendors and suppliers an overview of the company and make them cognizant of the business opportunities available at the drydock, Oman Drydock Company (ODC), a subsidiary of the government-owned holding company ASYAD, will be organizing a forum for the local vendors and suppliers on the 11^th of July. 

This forum intends to boost ODC’s In-Country Value (ICV) contribution by focusing on local supplier and vendor selection thereby developing Oman’s economy.

The objective to the symposium for ODC, one of the world’s largest and most modern ship repair yards, is to present the available business opportunities at ODC and establish strategic relationships with SMEs and private sector companies in a number of areas.

“ODC’s facility, which is strategically located in Duqm, is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment,” ASYAD Group Chief Executive Officer Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi said.  

“Over the years ODC has been providing high-value services including ship repair in engineering, fitting, blasting, painting, and procurement, as well as testing and trials. To further augment the company’s service capabilities, we want to build partnerships with SMEs and local companies and introduce them to a wide spectrum of business opportunities available with ODC.

“We strive to support local SMEs and businesses by providing them an opportunity to offer their specialised services to ODC’s esteemed clients in the maritime industry. ODC’s ICV strategy aims to further reinforce its alliances with the local private sector and encourage further opportunities for local businesses to benefit and grow,” Al Hatmi added.

“In line with the directives of the government, ODC is committed to engaging with and supporting the SMEs and local vendors,” Oman Drydock Company chief executive officer Said bin Homood Al Maawali said. “This forum is aimed at increasing the company’s ICV contribution and strengthening its relationship with the local businesses. Through this engagement with suppliers and vendors, we hope to encourage local companies and SMEs to participate in the overall development of the local economy. Besides, small enterprises can provide important services and products in the supply chain of larger companies. We want to create opportunities and collaborate with competent SMEs and private sector companies.” He added also that “we are looking for manpower suppliers, painting and blasting capable contractors, mechanical and electrical maintenance contractors, investors for projects ranging from 100,000 OMR to 10 million OMR, Omani entrepreneurs capable of cooperating with international marine services companies, transportation service providers and amp services providers.”

Providing ship maintenance and conversion services, ODC operates in the Port of Duqm. Since commencing operations in 2011, it has specialised in handling LNG and VLCC vessels. ODC’s dry dock is ranked among the biggest ship repair yards in the world equipped to handle some of the largest vessels in service today, including ultra large crude carriers (ULCCs) of up to 600,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) capacity. ODC secured a vast area of 1.3 million square meters in Duqm and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including two ULCC class graving docks (410m x 95m, 410m x 80m), five quays of 2,800 m long with water depth of 9-10 meters, 14 units of jib crane with lifting capacity of 100 ton to 40 ton, a slop and sludge treatment facility including slop tanks to store 10,000 cubic meters, five workshops covering outfitting, electrical works, machinery, hulls, blasting and painting and cryogenics.

ODC has recently diversified into providing design and fabrication of steel works for the petro-chemical industry centered in Duqm and building off-shore platforms for the oil and gas industry. Its modern, efficient and safe facility provides direct and indirect employment for a work force of approximately 2000 in the Al Wusta Governate. ODC has established partnerships for technical and engineering support with several renowned international companies and the extensive cooperation with these companies enables ODC to manage large projects efficiently.