Western Marine opens a new horizon in Ecuador

CHITTAGONG, Jun 30: MV Stella Atlantic, a 3,818 DWT Heavy Lift Cargo Ship built by the country's leading shipbuilder Western Marine Shipyard, has been delivered to TRANSNAVE, an Ecuador based state shipping company in South America.  

The vessel will transport cargos from Ecuador to Galapagos Islands in South America. This ship export is known to be the first ever export to Ecuador from Bangladesh.  

The ship's delivery ceremony was held in the Port City yesterday (Monday) where Chittagong Port chairman, rear admiral M Nizamuddin Ahmed and vice chairman of Export Promotion Bureau Shubhashish Bose were present as the chief guest and special guest. As owner's representative Captain Alejandro Villacis Aguilar, director of Ecuadorian Navy Company and Luis Mera Brito, general manager of Transnave were present on the occasion.

The ship was said to be of highest quality which will best suit the purpose of the Ecuadorian owner for carrying cargo. Rear admiral M Nizamuddin highly praised Western Marine's achievement and contribution to the nation in shipbuilding and export. He stated that Western Marine has created a brand name all over the world for their quality shipbuilding practice.

Shubhashish Bose mentioned that it is a joyous moment as Bangladesh is sending a symbolic product to Ecuador as its first export to that country. He mentioned that our bilateral trade with Ecuador will be further enhanced from this ship export as we will be introduced to that region of the world for the first time for our quality workmanship.

Stella Atlantic is an 88.6m multipurpose twin-deck ship. She has been built under the German class DNV-GL and will operate under Panama flag. Being a multipurpose carrier, she can carry up to 197 TEUs container and is equipped with 120 ton heavy lifting crane.

The chairman of Western Marine Shipyard Saiful Islam stated that Western Marine is contributing in the national export by exporting ships to different parts of the world. Ships are considered very high-end product all over the world and we have proven ourselves to be a shipbuilding nation upon delivering overseas. He also urged for government support to further promote shipbuilding in Bangladesh for export diversification.

The Shipyard managing director Sakhawat Hossain said, "After Europe, East Africa & Pacific, we are in South America through this export of ship. From now on this ship will promote us by branding Made in Bangladesh".

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