Ship Repair

Shipping Arabia, October 17, 2026 – Syria’s Baniyas Port has carried out maintenance and repair work on 23 vessels since the beginning of 2026, using local technical expertise and specialized workshops to provide ship repair, maintenance and conversion services. The activities form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the port’s maritime services and operational capabilities.

According to Syria’s General Authority for Borders and Customs, the port continues to expand its ship maintenance and repair activities through the expertise of Syrian technical personnel. These services aim to support vessel operations and provide the technical assistance required by ships calling at the port.

Baniyas Port Ship Maintenance Covers Structural and Mechanical Repairs

The maintenance and repair work carried out on the 23 vessels included routine servicing, structural repairs and mechanical maintenance. Technical teams also performed engine maintenance and repairs involving onboard equipment and deck machinery.

In addition to conventional ship maintenance, the port’s specialized workshops completed technical conversions on several vessels. These included modifications to prepare ships for livestock transportation, an area in which the port’s workshops have developed considerable practical experience.

The authority highlighted the technical capabilities of Syrian personnel in handling different vessel maintenance and conversion requirements. Their work focuses on ensuring that vessels meet applicable technical standards and remain ready for navigation.

These capabilities also contribute to strengthening shipowners’ confidence in the maintenance, repair and conversion services provided at Baniyas Port.

Specialized Ship Conversion Services Support Port Activities

Ship conversion represents another area of expertise within Baniyas Port’s technical workshops, particularly the adaptation of vessels for livestock transportation.

The authority noted that the port’s accumulated experience in this field allows its technical teams to undertake specialized conversion assignments alongside routine maintenance and mechanical repairs.

By combining these services, the port continues to support different vessel maintenance requirements through locally available technical skills and specialized workshops.

The authority emphasized that the work reflects the experience of national personnel and their ability to address technical requirements while preparing vessels for continued maritime operations.

General Authority for Borders and Customs Advances Baniyas Port Development

Meanwhile, Syria’s General Authority for Borders and Customs continues its efforts to develop Baniyas Port and enhance its operational readiness.

The authority is focusing on improving the efficiency of port services and providing the necessary facilities to support vessel movements and oil tanker operations.

These efforts are intended to strengthen the port’s ability to meet maritime operational requirements while improving the services available to ships and shipping companies.

The continued development of Baniyas Port, together with its ship maintenance and repair activities, forms part of the authority’s broader efforts to support maritime transportation and reinforce the port’s contribution to Syria’s national economy.

Source: General Authority for Borders and Customs

Shipping Arabia, October 12, 2026 – Oman’s Asyad Drydock completed 130 projects and attracted 56 new international clients during the first eight months of 2026, bringing its total commercial client base to approximately 900 worldwide. The results highlight Duqm’s growing role as a maritime services and industrial hub, supported by specialized ship repair facilities and integration with the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

The Asyad Group subsidiary completed 119 vessel repair and maintenance projects and 11 industrial projects during the reporting period. According to Asyad Drydock CEO Ahmed bin Ali Al Balushi, approximately 40% of the new clients came from markets in the Middle East and Far East.

The company’s expanding international customer base reflects the development of Duqm’s maritime services sector, which connects ship repair facilities with port services and industrial activities.

Asyad Drydock Sets New Operational Records

Asyad Drydock achieved several operational milestones during 2026, including a new record for concurrent vessel berthing during maintenance operations. The company completed 10 double-berthing maintenance operations for the first time, positioning two vessels side by side at the quay and servicing them simultaneously.

According to Al Balushi, this approach improved quay utilization and enabled the facility to handle more maintenance projects in parallel. It also allowed the company to make more efficient use of its existing infrastructure.

In another operational milestone, Asyad Drydock conducted maintenance and repair work on 27 vessels simultaneously. This achievement demonstrated the facility’s capacity to manage multiple projects while coordinating its technical workforce and repair operations.

Floating Dock Activity Expands as Shipbuilding Projects Advance

The company’s floating dock also recorded a substantial increase in activity during the reporting period. By the end of August 2026, the facility had serviced 13 vessels, compared with just two during the corresponding period in 2025.

The increased utilization of the floating dock has strengthened Asyad Drydock’s vessel maintenance capabilities and expanded its ability to accommodate repair projects.

Meanwhile, the company continues to develop its shipbuilding activities alongside its established repair and maintenance operations.

Asyad Drydock is currently undertaking two new shipbuilding projects for different applications. These projects follow the successful completion and delivery of three shipbuilding projects to customers in Oman and other Gulf markets in recent years.

The combination of vessel maintenance, industrial projects and shipbuilding activities forms part of the broader maritime services ecosystem developing in Duqm.

OMR 19 Million in Contracts Supports Omani Businesses

The expansion of Asyad Drydock’s operations is also generating business opportunities for local companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

During the first eight months of 2026, the company awarded contracts and purchase orders worth OMR 6.5 million to SMEs. Local companies received a further OMR 12.5 million in contracts and purchase orders.

Together, these awards totaled OMR 19 million, with local procurement accounting for 81% of the overall value of contracts awarded during the reporting period.

Al Balushi said the company’s expanding activities were strengthening domestic supply chains and creating additional opportunities for Omani businesses involved in ship repair, maintenance, shipbuilding and related industries.

The contract awards also reflect the growing participation of Omani companies in the maritime services and industrial activities associated with the Duqm facility.

Duqm Strengthens Its Position as an Integrated Maritime Hub

Asyad Drydock’s performance forms part of the continuing development of maritime services and industries within the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.

The area’s maritime ecosystem combines port services, ship repair and maintenance facilities, shipbuilding operations and related industrial activities. This integration supports the delivery of specialized maritime services to international vessels and fleets.

Al Balushi said the continued development of these services was helping Duqm attract maritime business from international markets.

The company’s project activity, operational achievements and investment in local supply chains underline the role of ship repair and shipbuilding in Duqm’s expanding maritime economy.

Source: Oman Observer