Middle East Dredging Projects
Van Oord has taken on a series of projects in the Middle East with an overall value of EUR130 million. In the United Arab Emirates Van Oord is executing dredging work in Ras al Khaimah as part of preparations for the 33rd America's Cup. This sailing competition will take place in Ras al Khaimah in 2010. Meraas has contracted Van Oord to supply sand for the construction of the artificial island Pearl Jumeirah in Dubai.
The island will be residential. In Abu Dhabi, Van Oord is dredging part of the Mussafah channel and performing beach replenishment work on the Abu Dhabi Corniche for local company NMDC. Once more Van Oord is involved in the Sohar port expansion project in Oman. Van Oord's work consists of dredging an access channel and harbour basin. The client is SIDC, a joint venture between the local government and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Van Oord has also been subcontracted to work on the expansion of Muscat International Airport.
Outside the Emirates and Oman Van Oord has also been awarded projects in Kuwait and Jordan. In Kuwait, Van Oord has signed a five-year contract with the Kuwait government to remove siltation in front of the cooling-water intake channel of Subiya Power Station. By dredging salt reefs in the Dead Sea, Van Oord is allowing water to flow more freely so that its client, the Arab Potash Company, can extract the raw materials it needs to produce artificial fertilizer.
Van Oord is active in eight Middle Eastern countries this year. Its activities are contributing to the economic development of the various regions.
