Sponsored By

LR marks a golden year in the Middle EastLR marks a golden year in the Middle East

As Lloyd’s Register celebrates 50 years since the opening of its first office in Dubai, Richard de Vries, Vice President of Business Development for the Middle East, Africa and India at LR reflects on market changes through the decades, and LR’s current activities in the region.

Seatrade Maritime

September 24, 2024

2 Min Read
Adobe Stock

What brought LR to the UAE 50 years ago - and how has demand for its services evolved in the intervening decades?
LR made its first footprint in the UAE in 1974, three years after the nation became independent. Around this time, the organization was collaborating on two remarkable projects: the Das Island LNG plant built 100 miles offshore of Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid in Dubai, which was for a long time the deepest man-made port in the world. LR opened an office in Dubai to support these projects. In 1981, LR opened a second office in the region, this time in Abu Dhabi, to support the expansion of Port Zayed.

How has LR’s footprint in the Middle East expanded over the past 50 years?
LR maintains a strong connection with the region, and we continue to grow our presence, classing around 30% of both the existing Middle East fleet and orderbook. Recent notable contracts include 12 in-service tankers from Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), which transferred into LR class from November 2023, and the delivery during the year of 10 MR-type tankers for Bahri Ship Management, which is based in Dubai.

Meanwhile, the organization has moved to a centralized model focused on global service and regional expertise. As part of this reorganization, this year I was appointed Vice President of Business Development for the Middle East, Africa, and India. This is the second time I have worked for LR in the Middle East since I joined the organization in 1997, and it’s great to be back as we work with the industry to support its decarbonization and digitalization ambitions, alongside our work in class.

The nature of classification itself has changed over the past two decades, from a focus on class and survey to providing consultancy services to the industry to help our customers achieve a competitive edge.

How does LR support the development of local talent in the Middle East?
LR is committed to supporting local communities through local recruitment of talent and the professional development of its employees. The UAE is full of talent, but much of it is imported. To support local ambitions to develop talent from within the Emirati community, LR is making a conscious effort to attract, train, and retain local talent to create a legacy that goes beyond the infrastructure we help to build and into local communities.

Continue reading the full article here

This article is part of the Seatrade Maritime Middle East Report 2024

About the Author

Seatrade Maritime

Our news reporters and editors draw on over 40 years experience of covering the maritime and shipping industries and bringing you the latest news and insights.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like