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With the Middle East becoming a new building center for offshore structures, ABS recently held a two-day technical seminar for rig owners, yard engineers and designers.   More than 120 attendees discussed jacking gear systems, mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) machinery, systems and structural fire protection as well as the ABS Eagle Engineering Plan Review Module which allows for real-time electronic plan review of drawings. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has focused on adding new construction to its traditional repair activities with jackup drilling units leading the way.  The majority of these units are building to ABS class in various yards such as the MIS Sharjah yard.  ABS Middle East Southern District Manager Joe Brincat says the rapid pace of orders continues as jackup demand continues at an all time high. The demand for deep well drilling combined with attrition from an aging rig fleet in which half are older than 25 years are two factors driving new orders. 

More than 76 percent of the worldwide jackup fleet is classed to ABS standards.  In the Middle East ABS is responding to yards by locating experienced offshore rig surveyors to the area.  The number of ABS surveyors in the UAE has increased to 32 and is expected to reach 40 by the year’s end. 

The ABS principal office for the UAE is in Dubai.  You can contact the office at:  ABSDubai@eagle.org or telephone 971 4 352 0371.