INTERNATIONAL NAVAL WORKS
THE INDUSTRY-LEADER IN MIDDLE EASTERN MARINE SERVICES Powered by Inside Marine
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INTERNATIONAL NAVAL WORKS
I PROFILE
With over 45 years of experience, International Naval Works provides a range of safe, reliable and high-quality marine services for the oil and gas industry. As a dominant presence across Egypt and the Middle East, Vice Chairman Captain Mohamed Omar Ezz El Din explained to Hannah Barnett how the company maintains its competitive advantage.
F
ounded in 1977, International Naval Works (INW) began with a small office in Alexandria with five
employees. It now has branches in Cairo, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, and over 500 employees. Safety is paramount for the success of a company like INW. “We work with about 300 fully trained divers, all of them certified and approved by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA),” Captain Mohamed Omar Ezz El Din, Vice Chairman, said. “We are approved for diving, ROV and general marine services. We also have a good health and safety record – including for incidental time lost during working hours – and this gives us a competitive edge. Because we work safely, we haven’t had any incidents for the last 10 years or more. Accordingly, the company was awarded ADNOC Certificate of Achievement ‘Special
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HSE Recognition’ for the Most Zero Lost Time in Man hours – Marine Industry. We render our services in compliance
In early 2022, INW celebrated the launch of INW-30. The DP2 vessel is engaged in a long-term contract in the Mediterranean
with the International Standards and are
and acts as an anchor-handling and
certified from Bureau Veritas for Total
towing, supply, and rescue vessel. It can
Quality Management System as well.”
also be used for firefighting and the emergency evacuation of rigs, as well as
New vessels and growth In 2002, INW expanded operations by
a diving support unit. “One remarkable operation carried out
opening subsidiary company International
by our team, using INW-30, was to success-
Marine Works (IMW), which was estab-
fully transfer a Christmas tree from off-
lished to work exclusively for the oil and
shore to the NEA 6 Platform,” said Captain
gas industry in Egypt, while INW provides
Ezz El Din. “INW-30 was also utilised for the
services both in Egypt and across the wider
towing of the jack-up rig El Qaher-1.
Middle East. Operating within Egypt’s Public Free Zone, INW offers flexibility to its customers a host of support services in a dedicated and professional manner. The company; maintains a fleet of 12 offshore support vessels including 2 DP2 vessels able to offer a range of marine services including anchor handling and towing, inspection, maintenance, well testing, and operations support.
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INTERNATIONAL NAVAL WORKS
I PROFILE
Captain Ezz El Din further stated that
The company also owns and operates
within the next six months, the company
five ROVs. “We have some ROV contracts
intends to expand its fleet by one more
in Egypt,” Captain Ezz El Din explained:
vessel, which would support its operations
“most of them are call-out contracts,
in the Middle East.
where we do the job and come back,
INW offers a unique array of rope
whatever the duration; it could be two
access services, using specialised tech-
weeks or more. We have the majority of
niques to place workers from various dis-
our ROVs in Egypt and one in Saudi Arabia,
ciplines in hard-to-reach locations. The
also doing call-out jobs.”
company provides a practical, safe and cost-effective solution for a variety of
Excellence in diving
applications, such as maintenance,
INW has diving contracts operating
repair, surface preparation, painting and
in Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and
inspection works.
Qatar. The company has a stated mission
“For a long time, we didn’t take rope access projects outside Egypt,” Captain Ezz El Din said. “We have our main contract here with bp in Alexandria, where we have a permanent team, and then we do other rope access jobs on a call-out basis.”
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to provide respected and dependable commercial diving and marine services that adhere to industry standards in safety and compliance. As a member of IMCA, the company can share and receive knowledge of safety and technical matters affecting the offshore, marine and underwater engineering industries. It is also a member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), which serves as an industry forum in support of improving safety, education and communication throughout the commercial diving industry.
EIDS is the first diving school in Egypt to acquire a license from the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety (EAMS), which
Diving School
is the approved governmental society for
INW runs the Egyptian International
commercial air diver certification.
Diving School (EIDS), which offers both commercial air diver training and recreational diving training, according to international standards. The former is certified by the International Diving Schools Association (IDSA), the latter by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS).
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INTERNATIONAL NAVAL WORKS
I PROFILE
Investing in the future
Strong partnerships
“We understand that each client is unique,
INW regularly participates in international
so we have made major investments in
events like The Egypt Petroleum Show
renewing and developing our fleet, using
(EGYPS), the region’s largest oil, gas and
the latest technologies to meet our clients’
energy exhibition and conference. EGYPS
requirements,” Captain Ezz El Din explained,
provides a platform for businesses from
“In 2021, we converted INW-3 from an AHT
around the world to convene, boost
vessel into a well-testing vessel in less than
bilateral trade and discuss commerce
60 days.
and innovation.
"In August 2023, the company began a
The show also provides a good way for
five-year contract with ADNOC Logistics &
the company to network with current and
Services to perform topside maintenance
potential customers. INW prizes these
activities like blasting, inspection, external
strong business relationships, as it does
coating, piping and more at ADNOC’s off-
its supply chain.
shore oil fields Zakum and Umm Al Shaif in
“We consider our suppliers like partners,”
Abu Dhabi. The contract is being carried
said Captain Ezz El Din. “We always have
out using INW’s offshore support
good cooperation and close contact.
vessel INW-5.”
Sometimes we visit them and conduct
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Vice Chairman Captain Mohamed Omar Ezz El Din
audits. Our main suppliers are for our engines, generators and gearboxes for vessels. And we have suppliers for our diving equipment.” Going forward, INW will focus on further strengthening its reputation as an industry leader in the Middle East, opening new markets in the field of SPM services. A continued investment in its fleet will be the driving force behind the company’s work to ensure that both its diving and marine services offer worldclass services. “In all operations, we aim to meet and
the best. “It really is my passion; I truly enjoy
exceed the expectations of our clients,”
delivering these services,” he concluded.
Captain Ezz El Din said. “We have a long
“especially the diving activities. I took my
track record with loyal customers and the
diving course in Fort William in Scotland; and
company’s goal is to continue to diversify
my father was a frogman. He worked in the
with a global footprint.”
Navy for a long time and then started this
For Captain Ezz El Din, continuing the work
company. To be continuing the same busi-
his father started is what drives him to be
ness and expanding it further is a privilege.”n
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