Ananda builds 11th ship for export

Ananda Shipyard & Slipways Ltd (ASSL), the first ship exporter of the country, launched Thursday its 11th ship, the largest ever seagoing vessel built in Bangladesh, reports BSS. The Ananda will formally hand over the ship titled 'WES GRAIN' with 5,500 deadweight tonnage (DWT) capacity to the Reedierie GmbH, a German-based buyer, by July this year. "The 'WES GRAIN' was built at a cost of 8.0 million Euros," said ASSL Chairman Dr Abdullahel Bari while launching the GL class 105-metre long multipurpose ship at its yard at Meghnaghat, Sonargaon, Narayanganj. Industries Minister Dilip Barua is expected to hand over the ship to its buyer at the shipyard in three months time, he said. Managing Director of the company Afruja Bari, Executive Director Tariqul Islam, high officials and representatives from the German buyer were present on the occasion. Ananda exported its first ship to Europe to a Danish buyer in 2008, making a history in the country's growing shipbuilding industry.