Meeting
the energy challenge
By Louis Homer
The Trinidad Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com 02 05 06
WITH
the steady growth of the country's energy sector, the scope for
manufacturing equipment and accessories for offshore drilling
companies has opened the way for local manufactures to produce
accessories that formerly were imported.
One
such company that has taken the initiative to get into the manufacture
of offshore containers and baskets is Industrial Welding Equipment
Sales and Rentals located at Point Lisas Industrial Estate.
IWES,
as it is called, was established by Mervyn Waterman to provide
welding and industrial equipment and supplies to industrial and
commercial investors.
The
company recently aligned its operations by becoming the first
company in Trinidad to produce containers to ship goods and materials
offshore.
Waterman
told Business Express that the company was expanding to meet orders
from Venezuela. Other countries are expected to follow.
"We
have already received enquiries from Nigeria and the United States
about our offshore containers," he said.
The
containers and offshore baskets are designed and fabricated along
international standards as stipulated by the Detnorske Veritas,
which represents a mark of quality in marine shipping.
Waterman
said all services associated with the fabrication of the equipment
were provided locally. "These include the design, fabrication,
testing and quality control of the equipment," he said.
This
company is bent on increasing the amount of local content which
is currently a key issue for all energy sector organisations in
Trinidad and Tobago.
For
the Trinidad market, Waterman said his company was providing supplies
to a large number of service companies.
"Within
the next three years, we intend to enter other markets in the
Caribbean and Latin America," he said.
With
the plan to extend the existing facilities, IWES could be on the
lookout for additional lands and technical staff to meet its objective
this year.
Waterman
is looking forward to Government granting his company duty free
concession and assistance in training his staff in new welding
techniques.
The
company currently employs 25 full time welders and a number of
other workers.
Waterman,
who has some 30 years experience as a welder and quality control
official, said his company practices the highest level of safety.
"Companies
operating in the energy sector face significant risk in their
operations and maintenance services," he said.
Waterman
said that as part of their risk management strategy, the company
uses the Cargo Carrying Units as a key aspect of its logistic
activities.
The Trinidad Express
Wednesday, February 1st 2006
Copyright © 2006
The
Trinidad Express.
All rights reserved
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