Dubai Maritime City (DMC) has successfully completed significant infrastructure upgrades, enhancing its ship handling capacity and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading global maritime hub.
The upgrades include retrofitting DMC’s ship lifts, introducing new ship cradles, and activating advanced substations and shore power supplies. With the installation of upgraded 6,000-tonne and 3,000-tonne ship lifts, DMC has more than doubled its vessel handling capacity from 400 to 1,000 vessels annually, facilitating more complex shipbuilding and repair projects.
These developments align with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and underscore DMC’s commitment to enhancing the Emirate’s economic growth. Increased capacity will also bolster Dubai’s rankings in key maritime indices. Spanning 249 hectares, DMC embodies Dubai’s seafaring heritage, serving as the region’s premier maritime cluster for luxury yacht and commercial shipbuilding and repair. So far in 2024, DMC has docked 296 vessels, marking a 16 percent increase in dry berth occupancy compared to the previous year.
The inauguration ceremony, led by Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chief Operating Officer of DMC, and Nils Rolland, Chief Operating Officer of Syncrolift, showcased the collaborative efforts behind these enhancements. Attendees included senior management from Syncrolift, DP World, and DMC, including Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer of Parks and Zones at DP World GCC.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, emphasized the upgrades’ role in attracting more international shipbuilding and repair companies, thereby stimulating growth in the maritime sector and reinforcing Dubai’s status as a premier destination for maritime excellence.
Nils Rolland echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the partnership with DMC illustrates a mutual commitment to advancing maritime infrastructure and operational efficiency. The enhancements will give DMC a competitive edge in servicing a larger volume of vessels more effectively.
In addition to the ship lift upgrades, DMC signed an agreement for the engineering, procurement, and construction of four new ship cradles, inaugurating the first two sets designed to accommodate vessels up to 6,000 tonnes and 140 metres in length. This addition is expected to further increase docking capacity by an additional 100 vessels per year.
The activation of new substations and shore power supplies aims to provide reliable and eco-friendly energy solutions to docked vessels, aligning with Dubai’s sustainability goals. Alongside these initiatives, DMC also signed a maintenance management service agreement for its ship lifting and transferring facilities and showcased the progress of an ongoing marine structures rehabilitation project, which aims to extend the lifespan of critical steel structures by 15 years.
These comprehensive upgrades position Dubai Maritime City as a formidable player in the global maritime landscape, ready to meet the growing demands of the industry while promoting sustainable practices.
