Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Qatar Navigation to expand fleet, capacity
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
Qatar Navigation (QN) plans to expand fleet and add capacity as the company received the first of its four new container vessels in South Korea recently. Equipped with the latest shipping technology, the new ship ‘Al Yasra’ bearing a Qatari flag is 144.5m long and 22.6m wide with more than 11m in depth. The ship is capable of carrying more than 1,000 containers, which are equivalent to 12,400 dead weight tonnage (dwt).
Al Yasra will reach Doha after a 25-day voyage from its manufacturing facility at Busan in South Korea. Qatar Navigation plans to operate the vessel in the Gulf region and mainly transport cargo between Qatar and the UAE on feeder service.
The ship was built by Dae Sun Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in South Korea.
Speaking after receiving Al Yasra, Qatar Navigation chairman Sheikh Ali bin Jassem al-Thani said the company would receive three more ships from Dae Sun Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, which has been QN’s partner for a long time.
“We will be receiving these ships over the coming months. We hope to take delivery of the last vessel before the year-end,” Sheikh Ali said.
The three vessels have also been given Qatari names. They are “Al Bidda”, “Al Romeilla”, and “Osheirej”.
With this, Qatar Navigation’s shipping capacity will go up from 2810 to 7210 containers.
Sheikh Ali said Qatar Navigation would go ahead with its expansion plans and consolidate its prominent position in the global shipping industry.
“We will add new vessels to the company’s fleet and invest wherever the company sees opportunities. Qatar Navigation will safeguard shareholders’ interests and achieve the objectives we have set for us,” Sheikh Ali said.
Qatar Navigation’s expansion plans include acquisition of containers and bulk carriers and development of harbour services.
Sheikh Ali termed the ship acquisition as a landmark achievement for Qatar Navigation. He lauded the professionalism of Dae Sun Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in shipbuilding and complimented the teams concerned at both the firms.
“Dae Sun Shipbuilding and Engineering Company has built the ship with state-of-the-art technology, on time, and within budget,” Sheikh Ali said.
Sheikh Ali received the ship from JY Ahn, managing director, Dae Sun Shipbuilding.
Top executives from Qatar Navigation, Dae Sun and Lloyds Shipping also attended the ceremony.
Qatar Navigation was established in 1957 for undertaking marine transportation and shipping agency works.
The DSM-listed firm currently handles a full range of activities including marine transport, stevedoring, marine loading and unloading agency operations, foreign shipping line agencies, offshore services, sale of heavy vehicles, ship repairs, fabrication and installation of offshore structures, land transport, chartering of vessels and travel agency services.
The company also provides sub-sea services, construction and operation of a ship repair yard.
Source: Gulf-Times
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