International Maritime Industries (IMI) has signed a construction agreement with offshore drilling contractor ARO Drilling to build a new offshore jack-up rig, Kingdom 4, furthering their ongoing collaboration in Saudi Arabia’s offshore development.
The agreement was concluded at the Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress held in Dammam last month. It follows the February 2025 contract between the same partners for Kingdom 3, described as the first offshore jack-up drilling rig to be built in Saudi Arabia.
Both Kingdom 3 and Kingdom 4 form part of a long-term order originating in 2017 when ARO Drilling was established as a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Valaris (then Rowan Companies). Under that framework, ARO agreed to procure 20 newbuild rigs from IMI for delivery between 2021 and 2030. The first two rigs, Kingdom 1 and Kingdom 2, were constructed at Lamprell’s Hamriyah facility in the UAE and delivered in late 2023 and early 2024.
IMI — a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, Bahri, Lamprell, and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) — will construct both Kingdom 3 and Kingdom 4 at its 12 million sq m Ras Al-Khair shipyard. The facility is capable of producing up to six offshore drilling rigs, 25 offshore support vessels, and 18 large commercial vessels annually, including VLCCs, bulk carriers, and chemical tankers. It can also accommodate maintenance and repair work for as many as 250 vessels and 15 rigs per year.
IMI chairman Wail Al-Jaafari stated that the start of Kingdom 4’s construction “demonstrates the continued strength of our partnership with ARO and reflects our strategic commitment to building world-class offshore capabilities within the Kingdom.”
ARO chairman Abdul Hameed Al-Dughaither said the project supports Vision 2030 goals by developing local talent, expanding national capabilities, and contributing to economic diversification.
IMI CEO Abdullah Al-Ghamdi added that Kingdom 4 “represents another significant accomplishment in our journey to elevate Saudi Arabia’s maritime industry.”
During the same congress, IMI also signed an agreement with Bahri for six ultramax dry bulk carriers, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029 — marking Saudi Arabia’s first large shipbuilding project.
Source: IMI press release, Splash247.com
