WFS hands over deep sea fishing vessel to owner

CHITTAGONG, May 5: FV Alliance -1, a 41-metre deep sea fishing vessel, built by the Western Fishers Shipyard (WFS), has been delivered to its owner.

The WFS is a joint venture concern of the Western Marine Shipyard Ltd and the Fishers Shipyard Ltd.

The WFS is building nine fishing vessels for local owners. The delivered fishing vessel is of international standard and the operator will get after-sales services from the shipyard, which was not possible in the case of similar ships in the past.

Through successful handing over of FV Alliance-1, the Western Fishers has completed construction of its fourth fishing trawler. The shipyard expects to deliver eight more vessels by June 2014.

The vessel will be able to carry and store 250 to 300 tons of fish having hi-tech European refrigeration system from the Bock & Bitzer, Germany including processing deck, slurry ice machine, chill water maker, blast freezer and store freezer. It will be able to maintain the required core temperature ensuring best quality of the ship.

The hydraulic equipment and fishing gears used in this ship come from the Scan Machinery, Denmark, the main engine and gen-set are from the Caterpillar, the USA and the propulsion unit has been brought from the UK.

The Western Fishers delivered three 42m fishing vessels to the Agro Food Ltd. The WFS has received orders for building 13 fishing vessels so far.

Unlike other imported fishing trawlers in Bangladesh, these ships are made to operate in the Bangladeshi fishing zone considering all the possible challenges for fishing in the Bay of Bengal. These trawlers are equipped with advanced machinery which makes the vessels fit for fishing in the sea in monsoon.