OREANDA-NEWS. November 19, 2014. Saudi Aramco has again played a key role in one of the world’s premier shipping and maritime events.

Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM), held in Dubai, has established itself as a platform for launching new products over the course of 11 years. Part of Dubai Maritime Week, the event saw the participation of over 7,000 professionals and experts in the maritime and offshore industry representing ports and shipping companies from 67 countries.

SMEM 2014 was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan ibn Muhammad ibn Rashed Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the Dubai International Exhibition Center. Saudi Aramco is a strategic partner of the event.

In an address given on behalf of Bader Ghouth, Saudi Aramco’s Marine Department manager, Fehr Khomais, acting Marine Planning, Programs and Support Services Unit supervisor, praised the forum’s efforts to provide a platform for ship operators, builders and owners to exchange creative ideas and new technological solutions.

Khomais also pointed out the Saudi Aramco’s current expansion in operations offshore such as Karan, Arabiyah and Hasbah will create new opportunities in the workboat sector.

Such developments will require a new generation of technologically developed ships to maintain reliable services, Khomais said.

Running parallel to the efforts to pursue the development of such new fields, Saudi Aramco will continue to provide the required services to the Company’s offshore oilfields in Safaniyah, Marjan,  Zuluf, Abu Safah and Berri.

To address new challenges, Saudi Aramco started to utilize the services of 16 platform supply vessels (PSV’s), all equipped with a Class-2 dynamic positioning system (DP-II), in order to provide the optimal supply service to rigs and barges operating in the company’s offshore fields.

Khomais emphasized in his address that the new basic fleet requirements will consist of larger and more powerful docking tugs, self-propelled jack-up barges, offshore security patrol vessels, diving service vessels equipped with Class-II dynamic positioning systems, state of the art anchor handling vessels and large offshore maintenance and accommodation vessels.

Khomais concluded his address by saying that Saudi Arabia’s marine operations sector has promising capabilities to contribute to the diversification of the national economy and advance the Kingdom’s development.

The building of an integrated shipyard in Ras Al-Khair is expected to create a major opportunity to establish ship repair yards and support all phases of ship building and repair. In addition, Saudi Aramco’s offshore areas development and upgrade projects will lead to an increased demand for the recruitment and training of manpower specialized in this field, a challenge Saudi Aramco is addressing by utilizing the training courses provided by King Abdulaziz University’s Faculty of Marine Sciences.

The forum featured four sessions focusing on three topics. The first topic extended over the first and second sessions and addressed operational safety, efficiency and reliability; the second topic was Vessel Design and Growing Sophistication while the third was Environmental Conservation. Each session had two technical papers presented.