Abu Dhabi Ports has announced that its subsidiary "Svin Drydocks", part of "Navatom Maritime", has acquired 100% ownership of "Baleas Astilleros", one of the leading shipbuilding and repair yards in Spain and the most technologically advanced. The total acquisition value amounts to 11.2 million euros. This acquisition strengthens Abu Dhabi Ports Group's operations in Spain and the Mediterranean region, supporting its growing expansion into the offshore wind energy sector. The yard is located in the Basque Country and will continue its operations under the name "Baleas Shipyard", boasting nearly a century of shipbuilding experience, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure that includes two dry docks, a 105-meter-long hall, and a 22,385-square-meter factory equipped with the latest automation and manufacturing technologies, as well as a dedicated cutting and fabrication facility of 3,530 square meters. The yard is a leading facility for manufacturing large, prefabricated structures for marine projects and is one of the most advanced shipyards for complex engineering vessels. It is also one of the few specialized shipyards in Spain for building Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) used as floating bases for offshore wind farms, in addition to research vessels, offshore support vessels, and specialized tugs. Captain Amar Mubarak Al Sheibah, Executive Director of the Maritime and Shipping Sector at Abu Dhabi Ports, stated: "This acquisition is a testament to our strategy for international expansion and diversifying our portfolio. The advanced expertise of Baleas Shipyard in building modern ships, especially those designed to serve the offshore wind energy sector, will contribute to our ambitions, support knowledge transfer, and the adoption of best practices within Svin Drydocks' operations." He added: "Integrating one of Spain's most advanced shipyards into our portfolio will enhance our capabilities to support the global transition to clean energy, and will also contribute to providing high-value job opportunities and creating economic prospects in vital markets." This investment enhances Abu Dhabi Ports Group's growing contribution to the global offshore wind energy market, particularly following the recent announcement of its partnership with "Masdar" to develop and execute offshore wind energy projects. With anticipated growth in demand for specialized service operation vessels in the coming years, the strategic location of Baleas Shipyard near the North Sea and European markets will enable it to play a vital role in meeting this demand, thereby supporting the Group's strategy to develop advanced capabilities in the offshore wind energy sector. This acquisition is also expected to generate economic benefits for the region by creating over 50 new specialized jobs to support ongoing and future advanced shipbuilding projects undertaken in partnership with Svin Drydocks and Abu Dhabi Ports Group's international partners, as well as in meeting the requirements of the Group's fleet.
