WMS building ship for NZ foreign ministry

Our Correspondent | Published: February 20, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Keel laying ceremony by Western Marine Shipyard in progress in Chittagong Wednesday. — FE Photo

CHITTAGONG, Feb 19: The Western Marine Shipyard (WMS) started building a vessel for New Zealand by laying the 130th keel of the shipyard today marking another achievement for themselves and the country's shipbuilding industry.
This keel has been laid for a passenger ship which is being built for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The ship will be used in Tokealau that is known as a non-self governing territory of New Zealand. Mr. Anisul Islam Mahmud, Minister for Water Resources, was the chief guest at the function and Neaz Ahmed, Honorary Consul of New Zealand, attended the occasion as special guest. The shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh has stepped into the Pacific by securing this new order.
Keel laying ceremony in the shipbuilding industry marks the ceremonial inauguration of a ship's construction work. The distinguished guests on the occasion in presence of the shipyard personnel and representatives of New Zealand ministry (the ship owner) hammered on a bottom part of the ship formally calling the keel laying or inaugurating the construction work. Harry Stronach, representative of New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has expressed his best wishes for the new building project and hoped that the yard will deliver the final product on time.
The contract value of the project is USD 6.6 million (equivalent to BDT 520 million) and the shipyard expects to complete the project by December 2014. The Southeast Bank Limited is the financial partner of the shipyard in this project.
The chief guest highly praised the work of Western Marine as the local shipbuilder is contributing to the economy by exporting such high-end product which has given Bangladesh a new global recognition. The special guest mentioned that it is a great day for them as this celebration has enhanced the bilateral trade between New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Saiful Islam, chairman of the shipyard, thanked the government bodies and officials of Bangladesh for patronising the infant shipbuilding industry of the country which has led the industry to securing such remarkable foreign orders. Sakhawat Hossain, managing director, applauded the celebration as "a new jewel in the crown of Western Marine Shipyard." He informed that this will be the 130th ship of the yard and will be remembered as the first ship built by Bangladesh for sailing in the Pacific waters.
The ship will be built under class Lloyd's Register, UK and it is to be a full SOLAS passenger ship which means the ship will have the highest safety measures considering all possible risks at sea. The ship will have a carrying capacity of 60 passengers and 50 tonnes of cargo and supplies. Considering the sea state and duration of the voyage, passengers' comfort will be given the highest priority in building the vessel.
The 43- metre long ship will be spacious enough to provide maximum comfort to the passengers. Environment friendliness is also a prime concern for the ship as per the Class Notation. Thus, modern technologies will be used to minimise fuel burning. Therefore, achievement of such new building contract has taken the shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh to a new dimension, organisers said.