Staff Reporter :
The government has formulated the ‘Shipbuilding Policy-2020’ with US$ four billion annual export earnings target in five years for the shipbuilding industry to provide a range of facilities for entrepreneurs, including bank loans at a four per cent interest rate.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has earned more than 100 crore foreign currency by exporting ships to different countries.
Against this backdrop, another cargo container ship manufactured in Bangladesh had been exported to the UK with a capacity of 6,100 tonnes on Tuesday.
“Bangladesh today has exported a multipurpose container ship to the United Kingdom (UK). This is our proud and through this, we will able to earn more foreign currency in this sector. We have already earned around 100 crore foreign currency by exporting vessels,” State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said while speaking as the chief guest during ship handing over ceremony in a city hotel.
Terming the shipbuilding industry as a potential export sector, he said, adding that “We have expertise in shipbuilding sector. We expect to achieve export earnings close to that of the ready-made garment industry in the future from this sector.”.
The State Minister said that despite conquering the sea border, but it wouldn’t able to utilize the sea resources fully.
“We are far behind of it. The government has taken various steps giving
highest importance to move forward the shipbuilding sector. Meanwhile, we have increased the capacity of all sea ports including Chittagong, Matarbari, Mongla and Payra,” Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said.
However, a private shipbuilder company, Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd has handed over an oceangoing high-speed, multi-purpose container vessel to its UK buyer – Enzian Shipping Company Ltd.
The ship, with a capacity of 6,100 deadweight tonnage, was built entirely in Narayanganj’s Meghnaghat.
The 364 feet long, 54 feet wide and 27 feet deep ship has a 4,130 horsepower engine and can reach speeds up to 12.5 nautical miles/hour.
Echoing the same, Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd Chairman Dr Abdullah Bari said, “We have been building international standard ships in Sonargaon’s Meghnaghat for more than 30 years”.
Shipbuilding consumes maximum human power and Bangladesh have good weather, rivers and large sea area, which blessed the country’s shipbuilding industry, he said.
“The shipbuilding industry contributes about Tk 15,000 crore annually to Bangladesh through ship export, ship management, supply of captains and marine engineers, crew supply, sea transportation through ships of the country’s shipping lines, and the country’s coastal and inland cargo and passenger transportation. This figure will reach 100,000 crores in 2041,” Dr Bari said.
As of 2019, Bangladesh has exported 40 ships to different countries in Europe, Africa and Asia in the recent years, and local shipbuilders have earned $180 million from exports.
Experts emphasised for sustainable development of the shipbuilding industry, employment generation, achieving efficiency and raising standards to the international level. Bangladesh started export of ships in 2008.
