DUQM Naval Dockyard

Following the signing of a joint venture (JV) agreement with the Oman Drydock Company in June 2017, Babcock international has been preparing and developing our already extensive expertise in working with international navies around the globe to deliver world leading engineering support from the Duqm Naval Dockyard (DND).

The creation of the JV Company combines the experience and expertise of ODC and Babcock to establish a focussed warship repair and maintenance facility within the broader commercial Port of Duqm. These combined capabilities, based around two large graving docks, include complex electrical, mechanical and weld repairs, carried out on the ship or in the state-of-the-art workshops on site, as well as extensive design and engineering reach back to the UK.  We also have an agile and responsive supply chain and use modern software to track and closely monitor inventory value. 

Since 2008, $1.7 billion dollars have been invested in the port alone. Now, with a workforce of more than 2,000 employees, DND provides ship repair and support, fabrication and outfit, mechanical and electrical work and waste disposal.

Sitting squarely at the heart of the largest free trade zone in the Middle East – the Special Economic Zone Authority Duqm (SEZAD) – our operation at DND is playing a key role in the single biggest economic initiative in Oman’s modern history, and is being looked at as an ideal maintenance and repair hub for a number of navies’ Middle East operations.

Fully endorsed by the UK and Omani governments, the hugely significant venture, in partnership with ODC, is something that Babcock is very proud of. With the UK government committed to maintaining a presence in this strategically important part of the world, a commitment underlined in its Gulf Strategy, Babcock is perfectly poised to be an integral part of future plans for the region.

We are using our experience in the provision of logistical support and in-country relationship building to ensure that water-tight planning is in place to meet the needs of vessels visiting Duqm, from the provision of physical items, repairs and supplies to managing critical sub-contracts.

From its geographically strategic location we offer international navies an ideal reception, staging and onward movement base and with a military-spec runway nearby can offer support to air operations and forward based land engineering.

In September 2017, DND won a contract for a voyage repair package on a US Fleet Tanker, and a competitive bid for a mid-term repair on another US Fleet Tanker, along with a further repair package on a US Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, demonstrating the facility’s ability to handle three concurrent, complex repair projects with successful programme oversight and project management.

Operating from this multi-layered, strategically secure facility, we are a partner that is trusted to deliver the highest level of engineering support to our global customers. 

For further information contact David Heley, Hd of BD for DND [email protected] +968 94901479.