$327m 'one-stop shop' for maritime industry

Construction work is well underway on the 500,000 square metre Hamriyah Maritime City in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, which aims to capture companies from the regional growth in the offshore oil and gas and marine business.

Dredging work for the harbour basins and quay walls is almost complete and contractors have started infrastructure construction. The first tenant companies are expected to move into the complex in the first quarter of 2010 with final completion scheduled for 2011.

The privately-owned and developed complex, in the heart of the existing Hamriyah Free Zone, is the brainchild of Adnan Al Najjar, the President and CEO, and fellow equity partners, Kuwaiti businessmen Saad Al Wazzan and Saqer Al Mousherji.

The Hamriyah Maritime City concept is unaffected by the credit crunch and the venture has not sought external financing. It has no plans to slow development, Al Najjar said.

"While other sectors such as real estate may be affected by the downturn, industrial developments such as Hamriyah Maritime City still have huge potential," he added. "For this kind of business in this region, the future is excellent and promising. The region has a shortage of ship repairers, builders and related services which are still very much in the growth phase."

Capable of handling vessels of up to 12,000 tonnes, Hamriyah Maritime City is to offer comprehensive facilities for shipyard operators and maritime related industries. It will have 210,000 square metres of dry berthing space and 1700 metre quay walls for wet berthing. The city will also have major ship lifting facilities for vessels up to 5,250 tonnes.

A large labour complex capable of accommodating more than 5,000 shipyard workers is also planned within a community complex including recreational facilities. An office complex will provide maritime support services including ship brokers, marine surveyors, classification societies, naval architects and offshore operators.

Satellite shipyards will be served by supporting workshops with a full range of infrastructure and logistics. These yards will also be covered to raise productivity and quality. The city will also incorporate 50,000 square metres for the motor yacht business with its own clubhouse and mooring facilities.

A retail complex has been designed to provide spare parts, industrial equipment, ship chandelling, accessories and related maritime merchandise. In-house training facilities to support the marine and shipyard industry are also planned with training packages for port handling operations, shipyards and oil and gas safety.

"Our aim is to offer an attractive enclave for shipowners to keep their vessels maintained to serve a growing and demanding market," Al Najjar said. "Essentially, Hamriyah Maritime City has been planned as an integrated maritime industrial city with comprehensive facilities providing a one stop for solution for the industry."