Arabian Ship Repair Yard (Asry) in Bahrain, buoyed by an upswing in orders during the third quarter, expects to exceed its target for the year and make a mark in the region's ship-repair market. The Yard reported a 20 per cent increase in orders during July-September, and the total number of vessels booked by the end of that quarter exceeded 100 for the year. Among lines that approached Asry for service was the Iran Shipping Lines that placed a back-to-back order for six vessels running through to the beginning of December.

"The forward order book has seen a positive increase over the (quarter) and with the number of orders now starting to pick up, the yard anticipates an increase in this sector of the market in the future," said Asry .The third quarter saw a 13 per cent increase in demand for the dockings of vessels below 70,000dwt and a 50 per cent increase for alongside work. However, due to high tanker rates there have been only two UL/VLCCs docked during the period.

The six Iranian Shipping Lines vessels are all bulk carriers and represent some five per cent of the owner's ocean-going fleet. They include the Iran Abozar, 43,365dwt, Iran Afzal, 34,859dwt, Iran Ashrafi and Ghazi, both 43,442dwt, Iran Ghodousi, 43,480dwt, and Iran Taleghani, 43,309dwt.

"This contract was won in the face of strong competition and demonstrates again that Asry is able to maintain a high level of support and an excellent relationship with its clients that it has built up over a number of years," said the Yard. Asry's confidence in advancing in the regional repair market stems from the interest that shipping companies have been showing in its facilities.

"A recent delegation from a major oil company, looking to expand its fleet of FPSOs or Floating Production Storage Offshore units, visited Asry in Bahrain to discuss new projects and view the extensive facilities offered by the Yard," reported Asry. "They were impressed with the modern workshops and the extensive fabrication facilities offered for production and process modules hook-up and commission work. The large clear docking facilities make the Yard ideal for this type of work."

Asry CEO Mohamed Al Khateeb said the company recognised there was an expanding market and, after recently completing the Knock Taggart for an FSO for Red Band and the Jurupema for Petrobras, believed Asry now had the necessary expertise to pursue that market.

Vessels repaired during the third quarter both alongside and in the drydock include the Berge Pioneer, 360,000dwt ULCC, and Berge Strand, 55,361dwt LPG, for Bergesen and AP Moller; and Felipe Camarao, 281,436dwt for Petrobras, along with AP Moller's 69,999 dwt Singaporean tanker Maersk Marlin, Mahavir, previously Elsam Fyn, 135,000dwt, Fathulkhair, 23,618dwt and Pratibha Cauvery, 29810dwt, and UASC's 23,618dwt UAE-registered general cargo vessel Jilfar.

Also docked was the Benor Tanker's Venture, 76,000dwt, along with TransPetrol Services tanker Tiger, 46,100dwt, USS Ardent for the US Navy, Ethiopian Shipping's 14895dwt general cargo vessel Netsanet and Chettinad's bulk carrier Chettinad Prince, 42,592dwt.

Asry also completed a number of contracts on specialist vessels including the jack-up rig Leen for Mansal offshore and two DSVs (Diving Support Vessels), Salama and Sharqi for Bapco. It undertook repairs to the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock's dredger Victoria Island.

The last quarter also saw a steady demand for steel renewals with a total of 1,148 tonnes, down some seven per cent on the previous quarter. The yard was also busy with blasting and painting with a total of 840,861 sq m applied to various vessels.