Companies must not compromise critical industry assets in their endeavour to reduce costs, said experts at the Adipec Offshore and Marine conference.

 

Experts also emphasised during Adipec’s inaugural Offshore and Marine Conference that companies and contractors who choose to cut health, safety, and environment (HSE) funds risk suffering serious consequences and even greater cost implications.

 

Ibrahim Fahmy, Marine Advisor at the Zakum Development Company (Zadco) and chairman of the Adipec 2015 Offshore and Marine Conference, urged that companies maintain their important assets and not compromise health and safety procedures, as “safety should always come first”.

 

In addition, oil and gas stakeholders in the offshore and marine sector should have a strategy to managing their business and ensure that these assets are operated by professionals with the right expertise. 

 

Retaining highly qualified staff through continuous education and training programmes is essential for the progress of the industry, and for a company’s long-term development, explained Fahmy.

 

“Organisations should continue to develop social and educational programmes, which feed the industry with qualified people who form the backbone of the industry’s success,” Fahmy said.

 

“With a rebound in oil prices expected, now is the right time to invest. In the last couple of months there have been a number of major projects that have been announced in the region, confirming the need for major oil companies to make the right investments towards securing market demand,” Fahmy said.

 

Taking place in a dedicated waterfront theatre at Adipec’s new Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment Zone, more than 40 industry leaders from the UAE and around the world offered a global outlook on maritime security and safety.

 

Khamis Juma Buamim, chairman of the Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries (DCMMI), gave insights on the fundamentals to building national, regional, and global strength in offshore oil and gas.

 

Conference speakers also included Omar Abu Omar, COO of Tasneef, Hamad Al Maghrabi, general manager- Marine Services at the Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), Captain Saif Al Hebsi, senior vice president of the Abu Dhabi offshore services company Esnaad, as well as Steve Kelly, president and general manager of Occidental Petroleum Qatar, Jean-Baptiste Faget, assets general manager for Total EP UAE, Christopher Bush, vice president – offshore at Technip, Joe Brincat, vice president - Middle East region at the American Bureau of Shipping, and Nagi Alyami, marine manager at Qatar Petroleum.

 

Abu Dhabi recently announced plans to increase its offshore production capacity so that it accounts for 50 per cent of oil output in the emirate by 2018. And with $25 billion worth of investments in offshore oil projects planned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) over the next five years, industry professionals are zeroing in on research and development.

 

 

Only 150 metres away from the main exhibition floor, the new Offshore, Marine and Heavy Equipment Zone covers 8,000 gross sq m of space, with a jetty that extends 500 metres long.

 

A purpose-built zone that provides water access, mooring, and quayside exhibition space allows more than 80 exhibitors to showcase a host of offshore products and services, including ships, rigs, and vessels, subsea drilling equipment, oceanography and mapping equipment, pipelines and piping components, and tools for reservoir production and monitoring. 

 

“The offshore sector is playing an increasingly important role in meeting the world’s growing demand for energy, accounting for about one third of global oil production. Realising the potential of offshore reserves, which are often expensive and complicated to tap into, requires continuous industry innovation,” said Christopher Hudson, president – Global Energy, dmg events. “This is what inspired us to create a new and dedicated zone for the offshore sector, and with the support of all stakeholders, provide a knowledge-sharing platform for the offshore and marine community.” 

 

Four industrial vessels reaching 65 metres in size are on display, with 30-minute tours that provide guests with an exciting opportunity to see the latest developments in maritime technology. Ships include the Esnaad 221 clean offshore supply vessel, the Al Shahama vessel by Abu Dhabi Ports, the Aradah vessel by the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Company (IRSHAD), and the QRS Paraiso offshore support vessel by Zakher Marine International.