Western Fishers Kicks Off Construction of Three Fishing Trawlers, Bangladesh
Western Fishers Shipyard has inaugurated the construction work of three more fishing trawlers on Wednesday at the yard premises in Kolagaon, Patiya through a keel laying ceremony.
Western Fishers Shipyard Ltd is a JV between Western Marine Shipyard and Fishers Shipyard Limited. These three ships will be owned by Alliance Deep Sea Fishing Ltd, a concern of Alliance Group.
The 41m trawlers are being built at a cost of BDT 20core each. This is the first time modern fishing trawlers are being constructed in Bangladesh. Last month Western Fishers laid keels of six other fishing trawlers. Their design was purchased from Iceland. “Caterpillar” brand main engine & generators will be used in these trawlers. They will be capable of mid-sea trawling & will be able to cope with the rough Bay of Bengal where the company’s fishing trawlers operate. The trawlers will be built under the French classification society Bureau Veritas.
In the past such trawlers used to be imported mainly from China and Thailand spending millions of the company’s hard earned foreign currency. Technological development and initiatives by shipyard like Western Marine & Fishers Shipyard will save these foreign currencies and contribute to the national economy.
During the ceremony the Managing Director of Alliance Group Mr. Syed Mohammad Abu Mohsin, DMD of Pubali Bank Ltd Mr. Shafiul Alam Khan Chy. were present amongst others. They admired the initiative taken by Western Fishers for building fishing trawlers and hoped the shipyard’s innovation will further benefit the economy in the coming days.
Shipyard MD, Engr. Sakhawat Hossain explained that the newbuilding of such trawlers is possible in Bangladesh today. The quality of these trawlers will be no less than that of other similar vessels built in overseas shipyards. Moreover, he said local ship owners should come ahead for building ships locally instead of placing the order abroad for cost effectiveness.
The yard Chairman Saiful Islam said this represents the start of a new chapter. Newbuilding of fishing trawlers is highly technical and complicated, it requires sets of machinery to operate in the deep sea. Thus, laying the keels of these trawlers is a great success.
The financial partners in this project are Pubali Bank, UCBL Bank & Dhaka Bank and they also attended the ceremony.
[mappress]
Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, May 3, 2012; Image: wfslbd
