Western Marine Shipyard Ltd. (WMShL), a leading shipbuilder of the country, has delivered three ships to the UAE and three others will be delivered next month to meet its export order target this year.
The internationally-reputed company has a record of exporting 36 ships to 12 countries, earning inward remittances worth USD 140 million. It has received eight export orders in 2025 from the UAE.
The delivery is part of the eight export orders. The remaining two ships will be ready for delivery early next year.
Managing Director Sohail Hasan said the shipbuilder was overcoming the pandemic-time recession impact with higher export orders received in recent time.
He said the WMShL also received a new order from a Norwegian buyer for a fishing vessel. The work on it is expected to start soon.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the WMShL said negotiations were going on for more orders from the UAE. It is expected to be finalised this year. The ships, exported so far, went to Finland, Germany, Pakistan, Denmark, Tanzania, Uganda, Ecuador, New Zealand, Gambia, Kenya, India and the UAE.
As a domestic ship supplier, the company has so far built over 100 vessels for Bangladesh, including two passenger vessels for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and two landing crafts for Bangladesh Army. Besides, few cargo ships are under construction at the yard for local private sector entrepreneurs.
Located in Chattogram on 1,122 decimals of land along the Karnaphuli River the shipyard has a workforce of over 1,000, five slipways and heavy-tech shipbuilding facilities. According to the press release, the industry is capable of doing 100,000 tonnes of steel work per annum, equivalent to producing 8-10 ships a year.
The company is also a recipient of different awards including National Export Trophy, President Award for Hi-tech Industrial Development and World Maritime Award.
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