McDermott, Nakilat-Keppel partner to pursue Qatar offshore projects

McDermott International Inc. (MDR) and Nakilat-Keppel Offshore Marine (N-KOM) said they have a memorandum of understanding for an exclusive cooperation agreement to pursue offshore engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) projects within Qatari waters.

The five year agreement calls for collaboration on projects that can utilize McDermott’s proven experience in offshore EPCI projects and N-KOM’s internationally recognized ship repair and offshore construction facility at the Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Qatar. Under the agreement, N-KOM will act as the subcontractor and facilitate fabrication from its Qatar facility and McDermott will be the main contractor to customers and will utilize its teams in Dubai and its Global Engineering Center in Chennai, India, to lead engineering duties.

“Through this exclusive agreement, McDermott and Keppel build upon our long-standing relationship to combine each company’s strengths to benefit our clients in Qatar and increase Qatari local content,” Linh Austin, McDermott’s vice president, Middle East, said. “With both our Dubai- and Saudi-based facilities, McDermott is well positioned to address the continued growth for the entire Middle East market. And now with this cooperative agreement, we have an even higher level of capacity and availability.”

Within two decades, McDermott has fabricated more than 80 percent of the North Field gas infrastructure and continues to see Qatar as a main focus for growth.

“We are pleased to partner with McDermott, one of the leading EPCI contractors in this region, to enhance our standing as a premier marine and offshore service provider in Qatar,” Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti, managing director of N-KOM, said. “N-KOM has delivered several offshore construction projects, including a newly built liftboat. This agreement will add value to our services in this area to better support the local oil and gas industry in Qatar.”