Drydocks World-Dubai installs advanced Grounding Avoidance System on BP Shipping vessel

The installation of such a system on a sea vessel is an industry first.

Personnel from Drydocks World-Dubai worked for 12 days to modify British Tenacity's bow and fabricate the structures required to accommodate the system's transducers and a new Navigation Display System on the vessel.

Drydocks World-Dubai's advanced fabrication workshop, one of the largest of its kind in the region, used approximately 11 tonnes of Grade A steel to fabricate the refurbished bow area.

The Grounding Avoidance System, developed by Marine Electronics Ltd. in conjunction with BP Shipping, is a three-dimensional, forward-looking sonar system that helps identify obstacles anywhere in the water column up to a range of one kilometre.

Nawal Saigal, Managing Director, Drydocks World - Dubai, said:

"This is a proud moment for us. The cooperation with BP Shipping in installing the advanced Grounding Avoidance System was a unique opportunity for Drydocks World-Dubai to prove its capability in handling complex and sophisticated engineering assignments. The forthcoming Nor-Shipping 2009 in Oslo, offers an important platform for Drydocks World to highlight this achievement and many more across our yards."

This technology - which is being trialed - was installed on the vessel, with the project completed ahead of the Nor-Shipping 2009 international ship building exhibition and maritime conference. The conference - which will be held in Oslo, Norway, from June 9-12 - will see Drydocks World showcase its world-class services across the Middle East and Southeast Asia regions.

The completion of this technical operation marks a new milestone in Drydocks World-Dubai's growth graph and has reaffirmed the yard's capability to undertake and execute challenging maritime engineering assignments with competence.

The project with BP Shipping follows a high-profile project for Norway-based Aker Solutions. Drydocks World - Dubai completed the fabrication of two giant 16,000-tonne semi-submersible rig hulls for Aker in 2007-08, delivering both 120-metre long drilling rig hulls within eight months of each other.

Drydocks World has long established relationships with the Norwegian shipping industry. Its participation in the Nor-Shipping 2009 exhibition reflects on the sustained effort to further strengthen these ties. Drydocks World will be located in Hall D, stand D06-06.