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Marine services company launched

ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi has launched a marine services company to provide port-related services to the growing number of shipping lines that now call at the emirate’s ports.

ADPC Marine Services, a subsidiary of ports and industrial zones master developer Abu Dhabi Ports Company, or ADPC, will offer experienced pilots, marine crew, technicians and other customer-focused staff.

The company’s services have been divided into five core areas that focus on pilotage; harbour towage; mooring and allied services; vessel traffic services, or VTS; and aids to navigation service.

The company will initially operate a fleet of six tugs, four pilot boats, six speedboats and one buoy maintenance boat.

ADPC Marine Services will initially serve all Abu Dhabi ports with plans for further expansion, earmarked as part of its future ambitions and developments.

“With an ever-increasing rise in maritime trade, into and from Abu Dhabi, it was clear that a professional marine services company would add value to the emirate’s growing list of shipping lines,” ADPC Marine Services general manager Hamad Al Maghrabi said.

He said the company will provide a complete and world-class marine service offering that will “meet and exceed our customers’ expectations”. With a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week pilotage service, the emirate of Abu Dhabi will now be serviced by 19 highly-qualified marine pilots operating across all its ports.

ADPC Marine Services’ harbour towage offering will provide safe, reliable and efficient marine services on both arrival and departures into and from Abu Dhabi’s ports. The company will provide safe, timely and reliable VTS services to all ships using Abu Dhabi ports and waterways.

The mooring and allied services will include safe line handling by trained mooring gangs at all ports, fresh water supply, garbage disposal and bunkering services.

ADPC Marine Services’ business portfolio is the management of the aids to navigation buoys and beacons in all of Abu Dhabi’s territorial waters.

The company will manage over 950 buoys and beacons, as well as having responsibilities for inspecting and maintaining buoys and beacons from the government agencies and departments including the Abu Dhabi Department of Transportation, General Headquarters, Environment Abu Dhabi and the Middle East Navigation Aids Service.

Capt Mohamed Al Shamisi, executive vice-president for ports at the ADPC and chairman of Abu Dhabi Terminals, is confident the new company will deliver a superior level of service, in their industry segment, and add value to shipping companies currently using or looking to use Abu Dhabi’s ports.

haseeb@khaleejtimes.com