International Maritime Industries (IMI), the Saudi Arabian shipyard with ambitions to become the largest and most modern in the Middle East, has called in Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) to provide a range of services.
IMI has signed a deal with CSM that will see the ship manager provide newbuilding and repair supervision services as well as work on sustainability concepts and vessel performance optimisation.
CSM will use IMI’s facilities within the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services in Ras Al Khair. The facility on Saudi Arabia’s east is set to be operational by 2022.
Catering and provision management for the IMI workforce will also be part of the agreement, as well as Columbia dedicating resources to procurement and logistics arrangements, and training and recruitment processes.
IMI chief executive Fathi Al-Saleem said the partnership would extend the range of its offerings.
“The agreement reflects our focus on developing partnerships that will help expand our business and capabilities through increased specialisation, capacity building and knowledge-transfer,” he said.
CSM chief executive Mark O’Neil said the two companies would work towards building a state-of-the-art technologically advanced shipyard.
“Our advanced engineering expertise, digitalisation and software engineering, as well as vessel performance and optimisation, teams will help to achieve IMI’s goals,” O’Neil said.
O’Neil told TradeWinds that CSM has 42 years of experience in supervising the construction of more than 300 vessels, and has in the past helped Chinese shipyards when they were setting up.
IMI says it will be capable of building four new offshore rigs and more than 40 vessels, including three VLCCs, per year as well as providing maintenance and repair services.
But O’Neil added that IMI aims to be more than just a shipbuilder, with Saudi Arabia planning to develop a huge maritime services hub at the site.
“Having Columbia Shipmanagement as part of the project, lends IMI additional credibility to the services they are providing. It gives them a leapfrog forward in history and reputation,” he said.
CSM set up a ship-management office in Saudi Arabia about 18 months ago.
IMI is a Saudi Aramco-sponsored joint venture with partners Hyundai Global Services, Bahri and Lampre. Earlier this year set it up a long-term partnership with shipping software provider Aveva.
