Dubai: Aiming to become the world's leading shipbuilding nation by 2015, China is also set to rise to the top of the rankings in shiprepair as well, according to Mohammed Alkhateeb, ceo of Bahrain-based Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY).
"Where shipbuilding goes, then shiprepair is bound to follow," Alkhateen told delegates at the Middle East Ship Repair & Conversion Conference in Dubai last month. He said China currently has at least 12 new large graving docks under construction, including the world's largest shiprepair facility on Mazhou island near Hong Kong, where Yiulian dockyard will have have two large graving docks measuring 400m x 83m and 360m x 67m operational in 2007. In addition, China has no fewer than 100 new shipbuilding yards under construction, many of which will turn to repair work as newbuilds dry up.
"China is also improving its technical expertise and management through joint ventures with Western countries and is now starting to make inroads into the more sophisticated repairs," said Alkhateeb. "Rest assured that within the next 10 years we will see China become the largest shiprepair nation. They have the motivation and resources to achieve this goal."
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