Ajman-based SeaSpray Alumin-ium Boats Emirates LLC (SSE) is set to open a waterfront shipyard at the Hamriya Free Zone in Sharjah with an initial investment of Dh10 million.

"The 50,000 square metre shipyard will be operational by the end of this year," Rob Bowra, executive director of the SSE, told Gulf News yesterday as the company celebrated upon receiving the ISO-9001 certificate from Lloyds Register, UK.

"We are the first aluminium boats manufacturing company in the region and the third in the world to get this prestigious certification," he added.

He said that the company, which was established in Ajman in 1995, has built over 100 boats of various sizes, mostly commercial. The company, he said, recently developed a houseboat for leisure. The first boat is already at the Ajman marina for viewing.

"The idea of a houseboat, which has been very popular in the U.S. and Australia, has been well received by the local community as many of them have already placed orders for this," he said, adding that this new boat can be used as a house, passenger bus, restaurant, office or for tourism purposes.

It has a very low operating cost and can sail in water as shallow as one foot deep. It costs from Dh500,000 to Dh1.5 million depending on the size and fittings.

The company invited various guests to its certificate receiving ceremony held at the Ajman Kempenski Hotel. A large number of officials, dignitaries and Sheikhs from various emirates attended.

The company, co-owned by Sheikh Al Hassan bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, manufactures aluminium ferries, landing craft, coastguard patrol craft, fishing boats, dive charter tourism craft, pilot boats, yachts and houseboats of up to 60 metres, as well as floating marinas, through its subsidiary, Emirates and Gulf Marina.