Abu Dhabi-based NMDC Group has inaugurated its new Abu Al Bakhoush heavy-duty cutter suction dredger in Nantong, China, expanding a fleet that the company now counts at more than 170 vessels, MarineLink reported on 9 October 2026.
The vessel, identified by NMDC as Abu Al Bakhoush, was built by Jiangsu Haixin Shipping Heavy Industry and formally handed over at the Nantong yard. The inauguration marks the addition of a heavy-duty cutter suction dredger to the company’s roster.
NMDC said the new unit will strengthen the group’s capacity for offshore and marine infrastructure projects, a core area of activity for the Abu Dhabi-based owner. The company’s fleet, already in excess of 170 vessels, will thus be augmented with this specialist newbuild.
Strategic expansion for infrastructure work
The arrival of Abu Al Bakhoush was described by MarineLink as a deliberate reinforcement of NMDC’s ability to take on marine and offshore infrastructure programmes. The company’s statement highlights the role of the heavy-duty cutter suction dredger in that strategic aim.
Builder and place of handover
Jiangsu Haixin Shipping Heavy Industry constructed the new dredger at its Nantong facilities and completed the build to NMDC’s specifications, MarineLink noted. The handover at the Chinese yard concluded the shipbuilding phase for Abu Al Bakhoush.
NMDC’s announcement underlines the continued use of international shipyards to expand its operating fleet. By adding a specialised dredger type, the group signals continued investment in assets intended for heavy marine engineering tasks.
The company now reports a fleet numbering more than 170 vessels, a scale that NMDC presented as supporting its project pipeline in the offshore and marine infrastructure sectors. The acquisition of Abu Al Bakhoush is framed as part of that broader fleet-development strategy.
MarineLink carried the item on 9 October 2026, reporting the inauguration and the yard responsible for the build. The addition of the Abu Al Bakhoush to NMDC’s list of vessels represents a further step in the group’s stated efforts to bolster capacity for specialist dredging and marine infrastructure assignments.
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