Western Marine Shipyard Limited on Thursday handed over three newly built landing craft vessels to Marwan Shipping Ltd of the United Arab Emirates, marking another step forward for Bangladesh鈥檚 growing export-oriented shipbuilding industry.
The vessels Maya, Emy and Muna were formally delivered at a ceremony held aboard the newly built landing craft Maya on the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram.
In 2023, Western Marine signed a contract with Marwan Shipping Ltd to construct eight vessels, including two tugboats, four landing craft and two tankers. With Thursday鈥檚 handover, the company has so far delivered four vessels under the agreement, following the earlier delivery of the landing craft Rayan in January and tugboats Khalid and Ghaya in July this year.
Speaking at the event, UAE ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al Hamoudi said the commercial ties between the two companies would further strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two nations and he hoped more ships from Bangladesh would be exported to the UAE in the future.
Abdur Rahim Khan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said shipbuilding had added a new dimension to the country鈥檚 export basket as both the public and private sectors became increasingly engaged in the industry.
Western Marine鈥檚 steady record of exporting vessels over the recent years was contributing to the economy, employment generation and diplomatic relations with friendly countries, he added.
He also said that Bangladesh is among a very small number of countries capable of building such large vessels. The country would soon be able to export even bigger ships to the global market.
Marwan Shipping and Trading Company LLC managing director Ahmed Mohammed Hussein Al Marzouki, Chattogram Range DIG Ahsan Habib, officials from the Coast Guard and other agencies were also present at the ceremony.
The landing craft will be used to transport equipment for offshore energy operations, according to officials at the event.
Since its establishment, Western Marine Shipyard has exported 36 vessels to 11 countries, with a combined market value of $138 million.
