Prantik Megh was built by Desh Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd, a concern of Chattogram-based Prantik Group CHATTOGRAM, Jan 19: A local shipbuilder has made the country's first-ever shallow-draft tug-cum-crew boat with crane facility.
The local maritime industry was lacking in such a tugboat to provide services for offshore projects, transport crew and toe dumb barges in shallow areas.
The Prantik Megh, built by Desh Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd, a concern of Chattogram-based Prantik Group, was floated in Bangladesh waters.
The speciality of the tug-cum-crew boat is that it can operate in shallow water along the shore of any river-big and small-in the riverine Bangladesh.
It can tow goods-laden barges for Matarbari LNG (liquefied natural gas) project at Moheshkhali and SPM (single point mooring) of Eastern Refinery Ltd.
The tugboat with a 1200-brake horsepower engine can handle cargo spares on high freeboard that enables it to face rough seas.
Prantik Group managing director engineer Md Golam Sarwar said Prantik Megh was launched in November 2018 and started its commercial operation in January 2019.
"There is no tug or any lowest-ever draft vessel in the country except this one built in our Desh Shipbuilding Yard at the cost of Tk 50 million," he told the FE.
Apart from handling machinery, pipeline, stone, barge and engines from offshore installations, it can serve as a passenger vessel with a seating capacity for 12 persons, Mr Sarwar said.
He said silt deposits in most rivers that need to undergo massive dredging to make them navigable. But the situation has become worse this winter. "Shallow draft tugs like Prantik Megh will be useful for transporting machinery in barges towed by such tugs of high quality and international design," he said.
The Desh Shipbuilding has constructed eight ships, including three crew and passenger boats, two flat barges, two tugs and a vessel.
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