Chittagong, March 31, 2011: Bangladesh’s leading Shipbuilding Company Western Marine Shipyard Limited today (Thursday) delivered two more ships to its German buyer making another milestone in country’s shipbuilding sector.
Minister for Industries Mr. Dilip Barua was present as the chief guest during the delivery of the two 100-metre-long ice-class vessels— EMSLAKE and EMSDOLLART, having a capacity of 5,200 DWT (deadweight tonnage), to Grona Shipping GmbH at a ceremony at Chittagong Dry Dock Ltd.
Addressing the function, Mr. Dilip Barua said that he felt proud as Western Marine delivered two more ships to Germany just after delivering two ships four months back.
“It is indeed a matter of great honor to see international buyers from Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, and Finland coming to Bangladesh for building their vessels. The combined efforts of the shipbuilders has resulted Bangladesh’s capturing significant orders,” he said at the function.
The industries minister said the ministry will soon constitute a coordination cell, comprising of experts in shipbuilding sector to ensure that Bangladesh built ships perform at the highest levels of safety and operational efficiency.
He said if shipbuilding industry could maintain the current upward trend, then this sector could be Bangladesh’s surest path to attainment of Middle Income Country (MIC) status while re-branding country’s image as a ‘Shipbuilding Nation’ through securing bilateral trade with friendly European partners.
Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, (ND), ndc, psc, Chief of The Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy, H. E. Mr. Holger Michael, Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Bangladesh, Mr. Abed Khan, Editor, The Daily Kaler Kontho, Engr. Enamul Baqui, MD, Chittagong Dry Dock, Mr. Sohail R. K. Hussain, AMD, The City Bang, Mr. Ehsan Khasru, AMD, The City were present at the program as special guests Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed, (ND), ndc, psc, said that joint effort by public and private sector will accelerate growth of shipbuilding sector in the country. H. E. Mr. Holger Michael, Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Bangladesh said that Bangladesh earned global reputation in shipbuilding after the readymade garment manufacturing. Bilateral trade between Germany and Bangladesh will increase further if the governments of the both countries work together.
Mr. Abed Khan, Editor, of the Daily Kaler Kontho said that though Chittagong was very important city for country’s economy, the government had not been doing much for the development Chittagong. He hoped that government would take proper steps for the development of Chittagong & proper take care of shipbuilding at Chittagong to be taken for the sake of economy to rise.
The Western Marine Chairman Mr. Saiful Islam said that the delivery of the vessels will uplift our image further in the globe, & these vessels will give the message to rest of the world that “we are not an underdeveloped country any more as we are in the business of heavy & hi-tech construction”.
Addressing the program, Western Marine Managing Director Mr. Sakhawat Hossain said that it was another record in Bangladesh that just after 124 days Western Marine made another 2 x 5200 DWT ships to handover to their German owner.
The each 100 M long vessels – so far the largest ever built in Bangladesh, is made up of 1750 MT of ice class steel, 60 MT of welding electrodes and took 7,00,000 man hours to build them. Besides, 23 KM of electrical cables were laid inside her body. 35,000 ltrs of sigma paints from Malaysia was used for their skin protection & beautification.
Earlier in November, Western Marine delivered two ships of the same size and capacity to the same owner as part of the project under which Western Marine is scheduled to deliver 04 more ships to the German company by this year. The ships are the largest ever built by a Bangladeshi shipyard. Western Marine is currently engaged in building 13 more vessels for local & foreign buyers.
