Western Marine has marked another achievement for themselves & the entire shipbuilding industry of the nation by laying the 130th keel of the shipyard. This keel has been laid for a passenger ship on the 19th of February 2014 which is being built for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. The ship will be used by Tokealau which is known as a non-self governing territory of New Zealand. Mr. Anisul Islam Mahmud, the Minister for Water Resources was the Chief Guest in the function & Mr. Neaz Ahmed the Honorary Consul of New Zealand attended the occasion as a 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 in the occasion in presence of the shipyard personnel & 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. Mr. Harry Stronach representative of New Zealand Ministry has expressed his best wishes for this newbuilding project & 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 52 crore) & 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 in his address highly admired the work of Western Marine & how they are 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 great day for us as this celebration has enhanced the bilateral trade between New Zealand & Bangladesh.
The Shipyard Chairman Saiful Islam thanked the government bodies & government officials of Bangladesh for patronizing the infant shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh which has led the industry in securing such remarkable foreign orders. The Managing Director Mr. Sakhawat Hossain applauded this celebration as “a new jewel in the crown of Western Marine Shipyard”, he mentioned that this will be the 130th ship of this yard & it will be remarked as the first ship built by Bangladesh for use in Pacific.
The ship will be built under class Lloyd’s Register, UK & it is to be a full SOLAS passenger ship which means the ship will have highest safety measures considering all possible risks at sea. The ship will be having a carrying capacity of 60 passengers in addition to 50 tonnes of cargo and supplies. Considering the sea state & duration of the voyage, passenger comfort will be the highest priority while building this vessel. The 43 m long ship will be spacious 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 minimize fuel burning. Therefore, achievement of such newbuilding contract has taken the shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh to a new dimension.
