Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry), the Bahrain-based maritime repair and fabrication facility, has signed a new fleet agreement with Bahri, one of the region’s largest marine fleet owners.

The Saudi Arabian ship owner has committed to a Fleet Repair Framework Agreement that sets favourable terms and conditions for its assets to be repaired and drydocked at Asry into 2019.

The agreement represents a further strategic link between the Bahrain yard and the shipping company’s 91-vessels strong fleet. Asry said that the deal would boost cooperation and attract more of Bahri’s assets to Bahrain.

Abdel Aziz Sabri, president of Mideast Ship Management, Bahri’s management arm, commented on the agreement: “Asry has been a long-term partner of Bahri, having repaired many of their vessels successfully. We’re pleased to take this next step with them and we look forward to this agreement allowing our fleet to be repaired with even greater ease and in greater numbers in the future.”

Asry’s chief executive officer Andrew Shaw said: ‘It’s very encouraging to enhance our relationship with such a prestigious owner as Bahri. This agreement allow us to offer the best value and flexibility for drydock availability, prices, and repairs, and continue to deliver high standards of safety, quality and schedule. We understand the downward pressure being faced by owners, and encourage these collaborative ways of supporting fleets both regionally and globally.”

Bahri currently owns 91 vessels, and is one of the world’s foremost transportation and logistics companies. Established as the national shipping carrier of Saudi Arabia, it has played a leading role in the transformation and growth of the Arabian shipping industry. It has just celebrated its 40th year of operation making it the most experienced maritime repair facility in the Middle East.  

Asry is the Arabian Gulf’s most experienced marine repair and fabrication facility.

Founded in 1977 in Bahrain, Asry’s range of facilities includes a 500,000 dwt drydock, two floating docks of 252m and 227m in length, 15 repair berths with a total length of approximately 5,000m, twin 255m slipways, as well as a full range of workshops and service centres.

The yard has three divisions – ship repair, rig repair and fabrication – which combined cover all types of vessel repair including jack-up rigs and other offshore assets, as well as fabrication of onshore and offshore industrial components.