State-owned Oman Drydock Company (ODC) plans to set up a mobile ship repair unit that can be despatched to the aid of vessels in distress or in need of non-drydocking standard repairs, a report said.

The so-called ‘Port Repair & On-Voyage Services’ Unit will be equipped to respond to requests for technical assistance at any of Oman’s commercial ports at Suhar, Muscat and Salalah, reported Oman Observer.

It could even undertake repairs if the vessel is at anchorage, or traversing waters in and around the Sultanate, ODC’s chief executive officer Stephan Aumann said.

“If the ship cannot come to the shipyard, the shipyard is coming to the ship — wherever required,”. “In the first stage, we will work with so-called flying squads based in Duqm, that are prepared and ready to go to the ports in Oman, either Salalah, Suhar or Muscat,” he added in an interview featured in Duqm Economist.

Oman Global Logistics Group (ASYAD), the holding company of government owned port, transport and logistics interests, and Oman Shipping Company and the ports of Salalah and Suhar are supporting the initiative, he added.

Seeking to lend it greater flexibility in the handling to small vessels of up to Panamax-size capacity, ODC is weighing plans to acquire a floating deck as well as ramp up its cranelifting capabilities, said Aumann in the interview.