Eng. Haidar Haj Najib: Expanding into Ship Repair Services with Managements

In a world dominated by rapid development and technological progress, Seashell Marine Enterprises continues to stay at the forefront, providing clients with a full range of maritime services. In this exclusive interview with Eng. Haidar Najib, the company’s CEO, we highlight a rich and diverse professional journey that combines technical expertise with maritime leadership. Najib also shares his forward-looking vision to further expand into ship repair services, contributing to the advancement of the maritime services sector in the region.

Could you tell us about your background, and what inspired you to pursue a career in the maritime field, which later became such a prominent professional journey?

I can say that my passion for the sea was evident from childhood. I always envisioned my future among ships and ports, which led me to pursue studies in marine engineering in 1986. I later graduated in 1990 as a marine Engineer from the Arab Academy for Maritime Transport in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Immediately after graduation, I joined Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, where I served onboard for 13 years. During this time, I earned the Chief Engineer certification, along with specialized qualifications in oil tankers and gas carriers, which remain valid to this day as I keep the validation every 5 years as per international rules, This period laid the foundation of my expertise in the maritime industry. Furthermore I am holding 2 master degree from in business from USA & Switzerland.

What can you tell us about your beginnings in the maritime business world, especially after founding Sea Shell Marine Enterprises?
In 2000, Sea Shell Marine Enterprises was established, marking the true beginning of my journey in the maritime industry, first as Technical manager till general manager. The company specializes in providing support services for ships, barges, and cranes and offshore vessels ,within a short period the company managed to achieve wide recognition and expansion across the maritime markets.

After that  and I move  to work with several prominent maritime organizations, to gain versatile experiences in this field including the UAE Flag and Port State Control, as well as DP World (P&O), where I served as Technical Head till I moved to the private office of HH Shiekh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Marine affairs as technical Head for 8 years till Dec 2024 where I gained different experiences with Yachts Management.

with continuous growth, Sea Shell Marine Enterprises  successfully merged several companies under its umbrella, including Sea Shell Marine Enterprises Shipmanagement, and Berton Consultancy. In addition, both Sea Shell Marine and Berton Consultancy ,both companies provides full support to ship owners and ships managers 

Speaking of Jotun, what makes Sea Shell Marine stand out as its authorized dealer in the UAE? Are there any upcoming projects?
As I mentioned, Sea Shell Marine is the authorized dealer of Jotun in the United Arab Emirates, distinguished by its ability to meet clients’ needs around the clock through a dedicated team of specialized employees who are always ready to respond promptly. We also provide instant color-mixing technology, ensuring the immediate delivery of the required coatings without any delay. In addition, our strategic location within Marine Hub at Dubai Maritime City- next to Dubai drydocks-offers us an integrated work environment that adheres to the highest safety standards and enables us to serve our clients efficiently and on time 
It is worth mentioning that every owner or operator who works with our companies is fully satisfied with the quality of services provided, a result of our strong commitment to quality, speed, and transparency.

In the coming period, we are focusing on further developing our operations related to Jotun in the UAE. Since 2006, we have had the ability to deliver to various countries around the world. Our participation in several development projects in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, and Singapore stands as proof of the trust that a global company like Jotun places in our performance and precision in executing projects to the highest standards. Today, we are also working on restructuring the offices of our subsidiaries, ensuring that each company operates with greater independence, enabling them to serve clients with the highest levels of quality and professionalism.

What is your vision of the future the maritime sector?
We are currently working on expanding into ship repair services and managements including Mega Yachts , an area where I can draw on my extensive experience and deep understanding of the industry. I believe the market still has significant potential for development in this field, and we are fully prepared to invest and strengthen our capabilities to keep pace with the future growth of the maritime sector in the region.