Bahri Floating Barges SWRO Desalination Project - Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Commissioned 2022 | Operational from 2024
Owner: Bahri | End User: SWA | Desalination Operator: Aqualia
Project Summary:
Part of the world’s largest floating SWRO desalination facility, this project includes three mobile barges, each producing 50, 000 m³/day of desalinated water (totaling 150, 000 m³/day). Owned by Bahri, the desalination operations are now managed by Aqualia, while Bahri oversees power generation and infrastructure systems. These barges supply critical potable water to the western regions of Saudi Arabia, aligning with national water security and sustainability goals.
Key Responsibilities & Contributions:
• Working as the Instrument & Control Engineer responsible for comprehensive maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of all process instruments and control systems on the desalination barges.
• Developed and implemented the Annual Maintenance Plan, covering instruments, PLCs, SCADA systems, analyzers, and control cabinets — ensuring proactive scheduling of preventive and corrective tasks.
• Created and executed Monthly Preventive Maintenance (PM) Checklists for:
• Flow, pressure, and level transmitters
• pH, ORP, chlorine, and turbidity analyzers
• Ultrafiltration and RO system sensors
• Chemical dosing skids and monitoring systems
• Authored and maintained Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for:
• Instrument calibration and configuration
• Fault diagnostics and corrective actions
• Shutdown/start-up control logic handling
• SCADA and PLC backup and restore operations
• Prepared detailed Corrective Maintenance Reports (CMRs) following instrument or control system failures — documenting fault diagnosis, part replacement, resolution timelines, and recommendations for long-term reliability.
• Performed instrument calibrations using HART communicators and portable simulators, maintaining full compliance with internal and ISO standards.
• Handled Preventive Maintenance (PM) for SCADA & PLC systems, including:
• I/O module testing and signal verification
• Control panel health monitoring
• Backup file management for PLC programs
• Alarm system audits and historian performance reviews
• Assisted during commissioning and early operations phases with loop checks, interlock validation, alarm testing, and tuning of PID loops.
• Maintained and updated all documentation: instrument index, calibration records, loop drawings (ISA 5.1 standard), control narratives, and tag management systems.
• Interfaced with Aqualia’s O&M team and Bahri’s power division, ensuring smooth coordination between process and utility systems.
• Participated in internal technical audits, KPI reporting, and implementation of system improvements based on operational feedback and failure trends.
🔧 Tools & Technologies:
HART Communicators · Multivariable Calibrators · SCADA (Schneider / Siemens / Rockwell) · PLC (Allen-Bradley / Siemens S7) · ISA Standards · Fiber Optic Networks · Field Instrumentation · UPS Systems · Desalination Sensors · CMR Reporting · SOP Preparation · Maintenance Planning · Control Panel Diagnostics · Historian & Alarm Management · Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
- Company industry:
- Water & Waste Water Treatment
- Job role:
-
Engineering