The medical team at Drydocks World has organized an event to celebrate the successful completion of collaborative research with Imperial College London.   The event was attended by His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Saleh, Chairman of Drydocks World, and by Dr. CS Kim, Drydocks World’s President and COO and senior members of the faculty.

Drydocks World Dubai is one of the most prolific shipyards in operation. The shipyard is the largest facility in the Middle East and is the flagship company of Dubai World. A ship repair yard of choice, it is also the preferred location for vessels conversions, new building and offshore construction.

Drydocks World Dubai has accorded the highest priority to the health and the wellbeing of the employees and current research program is one of the many initiatives started by the company to give its employees the priority of prevention and occupational safety which are Drydocks World’s highest commitment to be implemented and never be compromised.

In 2013 Drydocks World signed an Agreement on joint research with Imperial College (the ‘WELSHIP’ programme). Their joint purpose was to undertake a programme of high quality research on the acute and chronic cardio-respiratory health outcomes in steel welders at the facility.

Dr. Omar Hasan, Chief Medical Officer Drydocks World Dubai, expressed his pride in this collaborative effort. His presentation touched upon the evolution of occupational health in Drydocks World Dubai and various successful programs run by the organization. His presentation was followed by Professor Paul Cullinan from Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine, London. He summarized findings of the research which indicates that there were no measurable ill effects on the cardiorespiratory health of welders in the yard. The next phase of research will examine the risks of respiratory infections in steel welders. The collaboration has proved so far to be both successful and useful, a credit to the hard work of both research teams. His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Saleh commended the medical teams and expressed his support for future academic endeavors between the partners. Their success will have a positive impact on the global maritime industry.