Arabian Ship Repair Yard has reported it repaired and converted 31 vessels and offshore drilling rigs in the first three months of 2001 in what it says was another hectic phase.

"This demonstrates an increase of 18 per cent in the number of vessels and a 33 per cent increase in the volume of work over the same period last year and goes to show the confidence that ship owners have placed in Asry to undertake this work for them," said the yard.

Of the repairs and conversions completed, 19 were over 30,000dwt with five being over 200,000dwt and one over 400,000dwt. There were also 12 vessels below 30,000dwt.

The variety of vessels was mixed ranging from ULCCs through to bulk carriers, chemical carriers, dredgers, drill rigs, a floating dock and a derrick ship.

There has been a significant increase in the number of vessels being repaired alongside as well as a noticeable increase in the number of enquiries being received by the yard.

The work on the derrick ship Abouzar 1200, which is being converted to a deep-water pipelay barge continues apace and is due for completion later in the summer along with continuing work on a number of offshore projects and jack-up rigs.

Contracts completed during the first quarter included work on the following vessels: The Berge Odel (283,279dwt), the Berge Phoenix (290,793dwt), Media Star (411,508dwt), Corona Star (232,750dwt), Batholomeu Dias (151,227dwt), Eastern Power (275,553dwt), Granite (135,000dwt) and the Skopelos (274,950dwt).

Other vessels included the Bage (91,467dwt), Sitalene (83,970dwt), Olympic Serenity (96,723dwt), Frontier Express (68,520dwt) and the Cilaos (44,885dwt). Similarly work was completed on the dredgers Ham 217 and Carolina along with the floating dock Al Ruffa and the two drill rigs Leen and Sar-201

"The first quarter has continued to see strong international support for the yard. This is clearly highlighted by the number of different owners around the world who now use Asry's facilities on a regular basis," said the company.

Gulf owners from Qatar, Iran, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia continued to support Asry with six vessels being drydocked during the first quarter. Norway had a total of four vessels with Greece totalling three.

Other countries stemming vessels at Asry included Brazil, Egypt, Portugal, Singapore, Denmark, the UK, the USA, France, Japan, Morocco and India. "This cross section of international clientele clearly illustrates that Asry is now one of the world's leading ship repair yards and continues to command support from owners and agents who have now become accustomed to Asry's high standards of workmanship," the yard said.