Renaissance Services subsidiary Topaz Energy and Marine, a leading provider of offshore support vessels and engineering services, has been awarded a contract from GAC Group to provide completion services for two crew/cargo vessels. Topaz’s NicoCraft shipyard in Abu Dhabi has been awarded the contract based on the shipyard’s capabilities and established track record.

The construction and engineering works that will be undertaken by the Topaz Marine Engineering Division as part of the contract include structural works, outfitting and equipment installation. Upon delivery, the vessels will be approximately 22 metres long, will carry 24 passengers plus 7 crew, as well as up to 15 tonnes of cargo.

Johan Fulke, Managing Director - Marine Services of GAC Marine LLC, said, “NicoCraft has all the specifications we were looking for in a GCC-based company; they are industry professionals who know how to deliver the right end-product on time and within budget. This contract marks the start of an exciting new relationship for both our companies.”

GAC is a global provider of integrated shipping, logistics, marine and related services with operations in over 300 offices worldwide.

Thomas Bower, Managing Director of the Topaz Marine Engineering Division, commented, “Our first contract win with GAC is further recognition that our combined expertise in the construction and repair of aluminium and steel vessels are truly world class. The shipyard has successfully delivered over 20 vessels in the last 3 years, and has gained international recognition as an efficient and safety conscious operation.”

Bower added, “This contract also reaffirms NicoCraft’s ability to grow and leverage its credentials beyond regional players, attracting global companies such as GAC to come and build at its shipyard. We look forward to a long-term, collaborative partnership between the two companies.”

Topaz Marine Engineering has a strong history of orders from reputable worldwide firms. With more than 200 vessels repaired in 2011 and 10 new vessels under construction or delivered, the company continues to be a leader in the GCC marine sector.

Topaz is a provider of offshore support vessel and engineering services. It is a regional leader in undertaking turnkey engineering, procurement and construction projects with over 35 years of experience operating in MENA and more recently in the Caspian. Topaz Engineering operates under four units: Fabrication & Construction; Maintenance Services; Ship Building and Marine Repair.

• Selects DMCC free zone as its global headquarters
• Jumeirah Lakes Towers  continues to develop as a regional hub for the commodities industry
 
Dubai, May 24, 2010: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) announced today that Topaz Energy and Marine has begun operations from Almas Tower as a DMCC-registered company. Topaz Energy and Marine is one of the world’s leading oil and gas focused marine services and engineering companies with a regional footprint across the Middle East and the Caspian.

Topaz will use the DMCC’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) free zone in Dubai as its global base to further develop and establish its marine services and oil and gas fabrication business in the region, underscoring Dubai’s strategic role as a significant hub for the energy and marine sector.
 
“Topaz Energy and Marine’s move to the Almas Tower represents a strong vote of confidence in DMCC’s efforts to establish the JLT free zone as the principal hub for commodities including energy and marine services industry in Dubai,” said Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of DMCC. “With industry-specific market infrastructure and a full range of facilities, Almas Tower is an ideal location for companies from the industry who can utilise the free zone to manage their operations across the region.”

“We are extremely impressed with the quality of the Almas Tower and we believe the JLT free zone is quickly establishing itself as the destination of choice for regional energy and marine companies,” said Fazel A. Fazelbhoy, CEO of Topaz Energy and Marine.

Almas Tower is the purpose-built headquarter, which is located in JLT and caters to the specific needs of the commodities industry, accommodating hi-tech security systems and industry-specific infrastructure for its occupants. DMCC offers resident companies highly attractive benefits, including a 50-year guaranteed tax holiday, 100 per cent business ownership, and full ownership of business premises under a free zone status.

The JLT Free zone is currently home to over 2,000 licensed companies, ranging from commodities to legal, information technology, management consultancy, marketing,  medical, tourism and architecture. In addition to being a commodities and energy hub in the region, DMCC also offers a conducive business environment for all types of other licensed activities within its Jumeirah Lakes Towers Free Zone.    

Topaz operates under two primary business divisions – Topaz Marine and Topaz Engineering. Topaz Marine; the offshore support vessels division comprises Nico Middle East, Doha Marine Services, Topaz Marine Saudi Arabia, BUE Caspian, BUE Kazakhstan & BUE Turkmenistan. Topaz Engineering comprises Adyard (Abu Dhabi) and Nico International.

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One of the marine world’s most intelligent animals, the Giant Pacific Octopus, is the latest addition to the diversity of aquatic animals at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in The Dubai Mall. Read the full story