International Maritime Industries (IMI), the largest maritime yard in the MENA region, is delivering specialized on-the-job training for more than 600 employees this year.

The initiative reflects IMI’s commitment to driving the development of Saudi Arabia’s maritime industry by providing training opportunities for young Saudi employees and the Kingdom’s future maritime workforce, as the country seeks to diversify its economy under Vision 2030.

IMI, a Saudi Aramco sponsored joint venture with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Bahri and Lamprell, has formed strategic partnerships with these founding partner companies to deliver its on-the-job training program that highlights the company’s commitment to building Saudi capabilities.

Around 200 IMI employees will undergo on-the-job training at HHI’s shipyard in South Korea and Lamprell’s yard in the UAE during 2021, with an additional 425 receiving training in Saudi Arabia with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery (SASREF), and Dammam Shipyard (DSY).

Fathi K. Al-Saleem, Chief Executive Officer of IMI, said: “At IMI, we are committed to supporting the development of our people and Saudi Arabia’s maritime industry. By training Saudi youth, we are building a skilled workforce that will contribute to our long-term success while supporting the Kingdom’s economic development. The knowledge that our employees are gaining through the on-the-job training programs will help to propel their development at both IMI and throughout their careers.

“On the business level, the program is enhancing our capabilities through increased specialization, capacity building and knowledge-transfer, while improving efficiency in technical processes and increasing our capacity to adopt new technologies and methods.”

Through focused employee development opportunities, IMI aims to increase job satisfaction and motivation while providing employees with the valuable experience of working with people of different nationalities, skillsets, and experience. Individuals are trained in Design and Production Engineering; Health, Safety, Environment and Quality; Procurement and Supply Chain Management; IT, Ships and Rigs Operation, as well as Shipbuilding Processes and Activities.

In cooperation with its strategic partners, IMI’s training programs are collectively expected to contribute approximately 25,000 job opportunities to the Kingdom, of which 70% will be occupied by Saudi nationals.

In its full-service yard, IMI provides new build and maintenance, repair and overhaul services for commercial vessels, support vessels and rigs. It is the only shipyard in the world that has guaranteed offtake agreements worth $10 billion over 10 years, with partners Aramco and Bahri, for the delivery of 20 rigs and 52 vessels respectively.

IMI is the anchor facility of the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services, which is expected to contribute $17 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP, deliver import substitution of $12 billion, and provide 80,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030