Western Marine to build hi-tech ship for Kenya

CHITTAGONG, August 12: Western Marine Shipyard entered into contract with JGH Marine A/S Denmark to build an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Kenyan Ministry of Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture.
Minister of Shipping Shajahan Khan was chief guest at the keel-laying ceremony while local lawmaker from Patiya Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury, Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Hanne Fugl Eskjaer and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Kenya Wahidur Rahman attended the function as special guests.
The Danish principal Neils Holstein and a five member delegation from the Kenyan ministry headed by their director Patrick Osare also participated in the event.
JGH Marine, a Danish business partner of Western Marine having its regional office in Nairobi, will work together with the shipyard in completing this project. The design of the OPV is from design house Icarus in South Africa, which specialises in designing offshore vessels.
The ship will have an overall length of 54.70 meter and it will be able to sail at a maximum speed of 35 knots with 35 crews in the Indian Ocean of the East Africa to ensure the safety of Kenyan flagged fishing vessels operating in that region.
The OPV will be equipped with fully automatic centrally controlled and electro-magnetically compatible equipment.
The vessel will have a helipad to facilitate the landing and take-off of five tonnes helicopter.
Speaking on the occasion, shipping minister has said the nation will be exporting hi-tech ships, which is a great achievement for the shipbuilding industry of the country.
He has also thanked the guests from Kenya and Denmark to help flourish business relations with Bangladesh.  
The Danish Ambassador has praised Western Marine for building the OPV through Danish partnership and technical assistance of JGH Marine A/S, Denmark.
The Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya has applauded Western Marine Shipyard for taking this industry to a new height.
Chairman of the Shipyard Saiful Islam said that his company will be able to contribute to the national economy by building more sophisticated ships for export in the long run.
The shipyard's managing director Sakhawat Hossain noted that Western Marine has stepped into the building of third generation vessels for the international market.
Later the minister formally opened the keel-laying of the ship by hammering on the keel.