Saudi Aramco has signed a joint venture deal with UAE-based engineering firm Lamprell, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and Hyundai Heavy Industries Company to establish, develop and operate a world-class maritime yard.

The yard will be the anchor project within the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services in Ras Al Khair, near the Jubail Industrial City on the east coast.

The yard will capitalise on the rapidly-growing maritime requirements in the region by offering globally competitive, safe, high quality and on-time solutions to customers, said Aramco.

It will be the largest in the region in terms of production capacity and scale, providing a mix of products and services and enabling Aramco and its partners to meet their manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul requirements for offshore oil and gas rigs, offshore support vessels, and commercial vessels, including the very large crude carriers (VLCCs).

According to Aramco, the new facility will be able to manufacture four offshore rigs, more than 40 vessels including three VLCCs, and service over 260 maritime products annually.

Major production operations are expected to commence in 2019 with the facility reaching its full production capacity by 2022.