OREANDA-NEWS. Gulf International Services, the largest service group in Qatar, with interests in a broad cross-section of industries, ranging from insurance, re-insurance, fund management, onshore and offshore drilling, accommodation barge, helicopter transportation, and catering services, announces that its subsidiary Gulf Drilling International (GDI) have taken delivery of the new liftboat unit, Al Safliya, constructed by Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM), the joint venture shipyard between Qatar’s Nakilat and Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), in a safe and timely manner without any lost-time incident. Al Safliya, which has been chartered by Gulf Liftboat to work for Dolphin Energy Limited, is the first liftboat to be wholly constructed in Qatar at the Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma shipyard.

Mr. Mubarak Al Hajri, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of GDI stated, “GDI is pleased with the quality delivered by Nakilat’s joint venture “N-KOM” for the liftboat “Al Safliya”. GDI is also proud of signing its first Liftboat Services contract with Dolphin Energy, we are determined to continue this success that has been achieved in order to support the expansion of GDI business, we have been seeking to develop the liftboat segment of the business for several years and it is exciting to finally achieve this breakthrough. We welcome the opportunity to work with a prestigious customer like Dolphin Energy and look forward to having a long and mutually successful partnership.”

Furthermore, Mr. Ebrahim Ahmad Al-Mannai, Managing Director, Gulf International Services commented on this event: “We are looking forward for a positive impact on GDI financial position when contracting Al-Safliya with the lower demand for drilling rig services, especially the offshore.”

Nakilat Managing Director Eng. Abdullah Al Sulaiti said, “We are proud of the strategic relationship that we share with "Gulf Drilling International Limited", which resulted in recognizing these outstanding specifications of international maritime standards. We look forward in the future to implement these projects, which contribute to strengthening the position of Qatar in the maritime industry around the world and is a step closer to the achievement of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”