Two power barges are being fabricated in Bahrain by Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry) under a joint venture the company has formed with Centrax, the British power generation packaging specialist, a senior official revealed.

 The two barges will be available within 15 months for delivery, said Peter Thornton, director of Asry-Centrax Limited.

Both parties are to hold a 50 per stake in the enterprise which marks a major diversification for Asry.  The newly formed company has been established to design and produce multi-application power barges that will utilise twin Centrax gas turbine generator sets powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 60 aero-derivative gas turbines.

The design Asry-Centax will use is known as the Turbine Power Barge 125.

“We believe that there is a substantial demand for these barges and we envisage between six and 12 barges being built for the Middle East, African and Asian markets.  These will be for supplying not only power but also humanitarian requirements where there have been natural disasters and where instant power and water will be required,” Thornton told Gulf Industry.

“Currently we have 10 barges out for bid for various customers.  The major customers we envisage are governments for humanitarian needs, leasing companies and IPP’s (independent power providers).”

Thornton said it was proposed that Asry-Centrax would be setting up a separate facility within the main Asry complex to fabricate, fit out and complete the power barges. 

“The hulls and accommodation blocks will be manufactured by Asry in Bahrain whilst Centrax will fabricate the complete gen set package in the UK.  This includes the Rolls Royce Trent 60 WLE engine.  These will be mobilised to Bahrain where they will be fitted to the barge.  Final completion, hook up and commissioning will be undertaken in Asry,” said Thornton giving details.

“We intend to build a dedicated office complex for the project personnel and clients as well as separate warehouse facilities,” he added.

Over the years Asry has built a number of barges for clients, the most recent being four for the Bahrain Coastguard and one construction barge which can be used for the offshore industry for maintenance work and platforms and rigs.  The power barges will be the first to be built that utilise the Trent 60 WLE engines.

Asry’s joint venture partner Centrax Limited is a privately-owned company based in Newton Abbot, Devon in the southwest of England.  The company was founded in 1946 by Richard H H Barr OBE and the late Geoffrey R White after both worked with Sir Frank Whittle in the Power Jets Design Team during the Second World War - pioneering the use of the gas turbine for use in aircraft propulsion.

Centrax comprises two manufacturing divisions – the gas turbine division (GTD) and Turbine Components Limited (TCL) employing approximately 700 people including those working in European depots.

Slipways promoted
Meanwhile, Asry showcased its experience and promoted its two 255-metre-long slipways at the Middle East Workboats 2011 exhibition held recently in Abu Dhabi.

The expo is considered the most prominent event in the region for the workboat industry. Asry participated with a special stand prepared for this exhibition to showcase its experience as the first major shipyard in the region as it completes its 35 years of service to the maritime industry.

Asry’s marketing manager for Arab markets, Tariq Al Absi, said participation at the exhibition was in line with the company’s strategy of meeting both existing customers and promoting itself to new potential customers visiting the exhibition.

He added that the event also provided an opportunity keep up to date with the latest developments in the industry.

In another development, Tamkeen, the Labour Fund, honoured Asry for contributing the third highest number of employees in a Tamkeen career development programme.

Asry took part in the major programme, which started on April 14 where 450 employees earning BD200 ($530.5) and BD400 from various departments were nominated and successfully completed the courses designed by Tamkeen in conjunction with BDO Jawad Habib Consultants.

An Asry official said participation in the programme was part of the company’s ongoing interest to develop skills and become more competitive in the marketplace.