New ships being added to BSC after 27 years

FT ONLINE

A new ship named 'MV Bangalaya Joyjatra' is going to be added to Bangladesh Shipping Corporation's (BSC) fleet. This is going to be a new ship on BSC's fleet after seven years. In April, this ship's launch and naming ceremony was held where Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan was present.

According to the Ministry of Shipping, this ship was made by China National Mechinary Import and Export Corporation (CMC) which has a capacity of 39 thousand Dead Wet Ton (DWT). It is built on CMC's 'Jiangsu New Yorki Shipbuilding Company Limited' at Waikiki, in Jiangsu Province.

According to the Ministry of Shipping, five more vessels will be added to the fleet later this year. These ships are also being built with the help of the Chinese government. The government of China has given Tk 1,448 crore and BSC 395 crore in six ships for BSC at a cost of TK 843 crore. Among the six ships, three oil tankers and three bulk carrier ships. Each of the ships has a capacity of 39,000 DWT.

Naval Secretary Abdus Samad said that "trial run of two ships including 'MV Bangalaya Joyjatra' were successful. Hopefully, two vessels, including 'MV Bangalaya Joyjatra', will come in the country by September. The remaining four will be coming in October-November. '

Officials of the Ministry of Shipping said that there are only two ships named 'MV Banglar Agrojatra' and MV Banglar Arjon' in BSC fleet, but once upon a time there were 36 ships in BSC's fleet. Navy officials are hoping that this new ship will add new dimensions to shipping.

Bulk carriers Banglar Samriddhi and Banglar Arjan are scheduled to be delivered on August 25 and December 11, 2018 while oil product carriers Banglar Agrajatra, Banglar Agradoot and Banglar Agragoti are scheduled to be delivered on November 2 and December 22, 2018 and February 14, 2019 respectively.