Barrier Group, the international coatings specialist, has acquired Dubai-based ship repair company, Seven Seas Ship Maintenance and Repair (SSSMAR) in a deal worth £750,000, which will see it take ownership of a 1,000sq m manufacturing facility in Al Jaddaf.
Established in 1994, Seven Seas, which holds ISO9000 – ISO4000 and ISO18000 quality accreditations, will become Barrier SSSMAR and will offer passive fire protection services, as well as architectural, painting and insulation project work.
Barrier SSSMAR is creating jobs for 20 local workers, who will receive high-quality training from its existing workforce. Once fully trained, the workers will be responsible for manufacturing Barrier’s specialist Jet Fire rated thermal enclosures and jackets, which are designed to protect valves, pipework, and structural steel.
Barrier is one of the UK’s most established supply chain companies. It was formed in 1975 to carry out painting of structures to be installed as part of the growing North Sea oil industry.
It has gone on to complete more than 200 major contracts, totalling millions of square metres of surface protection and has worked for most of the world’s major oil companies.
More recently Barrier has expanded its operations beyond the oil sector and the group now carries out passive fire protection, metal spraying, powder coating, architectural & insulation, and scaffolding across the offshore oil and gas, nuclear, marine and offshore renewable energy sectors.
Craig Rose, managing director of Barrier SSSMAR, said: “Establishing a base in the Middle East is a significant milestone in our expansion and diversification plans. It gives us the chance to offer products and services, which have been tried and tested in domestic markets, to a wider audience.
“Dubai and the Middle East in general have remained relatively unscathed by the fall in the price of oil; however, there is now a focus on efficiency gains from operators and contractors, which we believe we can help deliver.”
Robert Bowles, chairman of Barrier Group, said: “The UK supply chain is one of, if not the most, capable and experienced in the world. The skills and technology-led solutions it possesses have been honed on North Sea projects, and are in high demand from international markets – something which was clear following a recent NOF Energy trade mission to Abu Dhabi.”