Our Correspondent
CHATTOGRAM, Jul 14: Western Marine Shipyard [WMS] has successfully launched two units of mini bulk carriers-JSW LOHGAD and JSW SINHAGAD.
The vessels with 8,000-tonne carrying capacity are 122.25 metres (401 feet) in length and built under Class Indian Register of Shipping.
A WMS release said they are said to be the largest vessels built here for Jindal Steel Works of India.
In 2017, the WMS delivered two similar ships-JSW RAIGAD and JSW PRATAPGAD-to the same owner.
They were the first pair of ships ever exported to India from Bangladesh.
WMS chairman Saiful Islam said his company has established itself as a brand in the world market.
In future, he hoped, the WMS would build even bigger vessels for export to other countries.
WMS managing director Sakhawat Hossain said shipbuilding industry is rising again in the global market after it was hard hit by recession.
He said considering the prospects of shipbuilding globally, the government recently allowed the industry a three-year moratorium on all past capital loans starting from December 31, 2017.
It gets the repayment facility for the next 10 years at lowest interest.
To this end, Bangladesh Bank sent a circular for banks and non-banking financial institutions.
For this policy support, WMS got relieved of their recent liquidity crisis due to global financial crisis.
The shipyard expects to maximise its net profit from the prime minister's initiative to reduce bank interests to single digit this year.
WMS is a public limited company which created jobs for 3,000 Bangladeshis.
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