Saudi Aramco has signed a contract with a consortium comprising Saudi Archirodon Company and Huta Hegerfeld Saudia Company for dredging, reclamation and marine structures for King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services in Ras Al Khair.

The contract is the first major deal for the maritime complex under which the contractors will dredge and reclaim 37 million cu m of fill, in addition to ground improvement over an area of 7.4 million sq m.

The contract will also provide for constructing 4,500 linear m of concrete quay walls and wharves, in addition to 12,000 linear m of rock revetments and breakwaters to protect the integrity of the complex.

“It is an important milestone for King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services, the largest of its kind in the region,” said Ahmed Al Sa’adi, Saudi Aramco’s senior vice president for technical services. “The complex is in line with the kingdom’s economic diversification objectives; it will position the kingdom as a strategic logistics hub and will create vast job opportunities.”

The initial phase of the contract will be completed by 2020. This will prepare the project’s land for subsequent construction of a dry dock and ship building and maintenance facilities.

The complex was launched in November 2016 by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Ras Al Khair, near Jubail in the Eastern Province. The facility, when completed, will offer quality, efficiency and economies of scale, and provide vessel and rig build, maintenance, repair and overhaul services.