Grandweld Shipyards, a leading UAE-based shipbuilding and ship repair facility, said it has successfully delivered the second of the three new 42-meter crew boats (GrandSuperior), built for Allianz Middle East Ship Management. 

 

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, The Allianz Group is a leading contractor who provides marine vessels, offshore logistic and other petroleum services to the Oil & Gas and offshore construction industry. Its operations cover the wider GCC region, India, Egypt and West Africa.

 

Named Allianz Surfer 2, the crew boat is expected to join the charter contract for Adnoc offshore projects, as part of the UAE's strategy to increase its oil and gas production capacity. 

 

The official delivery ceremony recently took place at Grandweld’s headquarters in Dubai Maritime City (DMC), in the presence of Engineer Jamal Abki, General Manager of Grandweld Shipyards and Ahmed T. Khalil, General Manager of Allianz Middle East Ship Management. 

 

The GrandSuperior 42m crewboat series has been developed and refined over 15 years by Grandweld’s in-house engineering team. It is capable of transferring 100 pax and up to 70T of deck cargo, said the statement from the UAE ship builder. 

 

These crewboats have developed an incredible reputation for reliability and flexible multi-functional operations. They are powered by three 1450HP engines to achieve over 27 knots, and also have 2x75HP bow thrusters and Grandweld’s hydrodynamically foiled rudders for exceptional maneuverability, it stated. 

 

The wheelhouse is very user-friendly with 360-degree visibility and ergonomic forward and aft consoles, it added. 

 

Abki said: "Collaborating with Allianz Middle East Ship Management, a market leader with operations in several countries, was a boost to our portfolio. The completion of the second boat will give us good momentum to accomplish the rest of the project."

 

"Some of the primary reasons that helped us complete the project promptly, despite the volatile market conditions and the pandemic, is our team of experts at the shipyard and the trust that our clients have in us. Additionally, we also owe our success to the management system we adopted way before the pandemic. This prepared to tackle any crisis through efficient project management," he added.

 

Khalil said: "The pandemic ensured that only the fittest have survived in the market. Such purging is integral to ensure quality in the industry. This has allowed trusted shipyards like Grandweld to survive. In fact, we opted for Grandweld due to its reputation in the industry."

 

"Our fleet of boats is a part of projects with ADNOC, this means that quality and excellence were a top priority. We had full confidence that Grandweld could help us meet these standards required to serve the oil & gas industry, especially a key player like Adnoc," he noted. 

 

"Moreover, we were working on a tight time frame, which was a major concern. With their outstanding work and commitment to delivering as per schedule with Surfer 2, Grandweld has proved that client satisfaction is of utmost importance for them," he added. 

 

As flagbearers of quality in the industry and supporting the local cause of Made in UAE, both Grandweld Shipyards and Allianz Middle East Ship Management, have supported the ICV initiative. 

 

"Over the years, both entities have ensured their contribution to local economic development by encouraging procurement procedures that priorities local companies," he added.

 

With the completion of this project, Grandweld has helped Allianz Middle East Ship Management in achieving operational efficiency. 

 

Through their strategic business relationship, both entities are testimony to the resilience and optimism in the shipbuilding and oil and gas markets.