Asry, a leading rig and ship repair yard in the Gulf, has witnessed a sales spurt due to its participation in the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine (SMM) exhibition in Germany, the company says

SMM is one of the largest international marine trade fairs. “With nearly every major customer in one place, SMM is an ideal opportunity to showcase the yard’s capabilities, which also translated into several confirmed bookings and new business leads,” said Chris Potter, chief executive of Asry, the abbreviation of Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company.

“This year has seen demand steadily growing, and the exhibition has contributed to a strong finish to the year,” he noted.

Asry’s $188 million expansion was showcased at the event held at the Hamburg Congress Convention Centre. Asry’s stand, designed by Venus International, sported the recently updated brand and attracted a global crowd.

The event boasted 90,000 sq m of hall space, filled with 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries and 30 national pavilions. Held in its 25th year, it attracted about 50,000 marine professionals during its four-day course.

Asry has had a strong first half in 2012 with 17 ships repaired against 20 for the whole of last year. As well as being a specialist ship repairs company, it constructs various marine platforms in the Gulf region.

It completed last year a new 1.38 km repair quay wall and a 200,000 sq m offshore fabrication and load out area. The new wall has an alongside water depth of 12 m and can simultaneously handle three 300,000 dwt vessels.

Meanwhile, the yard stated it has committed more than $3 million to environmental considerations over the past two years.

These investments include a new sewage treatment plant, an oil sludge recycling modernisation programme and on-going corporate awareness campaigns and certifications.

“As one of the industrial leaders in the region, Asry has a responsibility to inspire and encourage environmental protection throughout the region,” said Potter.

“Asry had recently celebrated the World Environment Day which was organised under the slogan Green Economy by handing out and distributing plants and nurslings, thereby educating the employees and workers on the importance of this branch of the economy.

“What sets Asry apart is its well established heritage and commitment to the environment which dates back more than 35 years, in other words since the initial dredging and backfilling works in the dry dock.

“The company has actively sustained this interest in the conservation and protection of the environment. 2011 was marked by increased progress, especially in the field of waste recycling, which manifested in the several projects and initiatives that reassert the magnitude of the company’s commitment to the protection of the environment.”