Bahrain’s Arabian Ship Repair Yard (Asry) reported a doubling of sales revenues in the first quarter compared with the corresponding period in 2007.

Revenues reached $89.4 million against $84.6 million, a company statement said.
European markets contributed $33 million to the revenues, Arab markets $26 million and the Americas market $22.6 million, the last category showing the highest rise with the 2007 figure reported at $5.1 million.
Thirty vessels were repaired at Asry facilities, including 13 from the Arab market. The statement said there had been a steady increase in the actual values of repairs completed on each vessel and the final revenue figures could  cross $143 million.
“The encouraging thing has been the steady increase in the actual values of repairs completed on each vessel. This has been consistently rising over the last six months and with the level of high demand looks to continue throughout the rest of the year,” the statement said.
Four dockings were reported from Petrobras, Brazil; Vrontados of Greece and Red Sea Marine Services from Saudi Arabia.
The company’s just-completed two new slipways are being targeted at the offshore supply boat operators and are capable of handling all their requirements for specialist vessels, ranging from supply boats through to anchor handlers, pipe carriers, crewboats and DSVs.
The facility will significantly increase Asry’s ship repair market share in the small and medium size vessels of around 15,000 dwt.
The demand for blasting and painting has remained high with some 1.2 million sq m of painting being completed and 260 ppp sq m of blasting undertaken. There were a total of 24 boiler repairs undertaken, an increase of 100 per cent on the same period last year.  Steel repairs were consistent with a yard of this size, with 2,043 tonnes of steel being used.