Ananda Shipyard exports Tk 1.0b ocean-going vessel
UK-based Enzian Shipping buys 6,100DWT ship
FE REPORT | Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Local ship builder Ananda Shipyard formally delivered on Tuesday an ocean-going multipurpose container vessel worth more than Tk 1.0 billion to UK-based Enzian Shipping Company Ltd.
The Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd organised a ceremony to complete necessary formalities to hand over the 6100 Deadweight tonnage (DWT) ship at a city hotel.
The multipurpose container vessel with an engine capacity of 4130 horsepower and designed for hostile sea weather like that of Baltic Sea has been built at Ananda Shipyard's factory at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj, said officials.
The 364-foot-long, 54-foot-wide and 27-foot deep vessel can navigate at a speed of 12.5 nautical miles.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the country has a history of ship building from time immemorial.
The government has declared the shipbuilding industry as a thrust sector seeing a huge potential of foreign currency earnings, he said. "We strongly believe that shipbuilding would gradually become a major export earning sector of the country."
Ananda Shipyard Chairman Dr Abdullah Bari said the company introduced, popularised and expanded modern shipbuilding techniques and methods in the country 30 years ago.
He also claimed that the shipbuilding industry contributes Tk 150 billion annually through ship exports, ship management, supply of captains and marine engineers, sea transportation by domestic shipping lines, coastal and inland cargo and passenger transportation.
He expected the sector's turnover to reach around Tk 1.0 trillion by 2041.
Mr Bari said Ananda Shipyard has so far built and supplied 356 vessels to domestic buyers as well as foreign buyers from countries like Denmark, Germany, Norway and Mozambique.
In 2008, the company became the pioneer by exporting state-of-the-art container ship 'Stella Maris' to Denmark which gave Bangladesh recognition as a modern sea-going vessel exporter.
Director General of Department of Shipping Commodore Md Nizamul Haque, National Board of Revenue Member (Custom, Export, Bond & IT) Hossain Ahmed, Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd Managing Director Mohammed Monirul Maula, Managing Director of Ananda Shipyard Afruja Bari, among others, were present at the ceremony.