Babcock announces a joint venture with Oman Drydock Company.

Babcock uses its presence at DIMDEX ‘18 to showcase its international capabilities and programme of activity in the global market. Babcock’s growth aspiration is apparent in its Middle Eastern operation, which, following the announcement of a joint venture with the Oman Drydock Company (ODC) is growing in strength and capability.

Babcock-Oman Dry docks joint venture

With decades of experience in managing naval dockyards for the UK Royal Navy, Babcock brings a wealth of knowledge and know-how to its Duqm Naval Dockyard (DND) operation and more widely to the Middle East with its hard-to-beat heritage of excellence in marine engineering and bespoke training services. With more than 20 years of managing UK naval bases, Babcock has an impressive track record of delivering best in class engineering, refit and maintenance, safety and security programmes, grounds and waste management, transport and logistics services and is using that experience to add value to its Duqm joint venture.

The US Navy has been quick to capitalise on the strategically important position of the Duqm facility and its capabilities. Since signing the Joint Venture the Babcock - Oman Drydock Company partnership has delivered five significant projects for the US Navy, including the repair and maintenance of three of its key fleet replenishment oilers. One major operational highlight for the Dockyard was the recent forty two day Mid-Term Availability Maintenance contract, awarded by the US Military Sealift Command (USMSC), for the USNS Kanawha. This work package was a key building block in the development of the Joint Venture and served as a springboard for similar work packages from the US Navy, and, in particular, US Military Sealift Command.

The location of Duqm Naval Dockyard is now being looked at by a number of navies as an ideal maintenance and repair hub for their operations in the Middle East and beyond. A deep-water, purpose built facility, Duqm sits astride the ‘Global Energy Interstate’ of the Indian Ocean and Gulf. Ships operating from Duqm can access the Straits of Hormuz, the Bab-el-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden, and the East African seaboard. With a proven track record in providing world class training, Babcock use DIMDEX to underline the breadth and depth of its training capability and how it can fit into a Middle Eastern marketplace.

As the partner of choice for navies and maritime training Babcock takes a blended approach, adding modern learning techniques and innovative technologies into the mix, upgrading existing infrastructure and training courseware. This approach, bringing the cumulative value of simulation, emulation and highly tuned individual or group learning, maximises student learning and knowledge retention, optimising its customer’s operational capability. With the right location, the right engineering and training skills and a wide range of capabilities Babcock’s future in the Middle East is an increasingly bright one.