Chittagong, Bangladesh (BBN)– Western Marine Shipyard limited has started constructing six fishing trawlers at its premises in Patiya of Chittagong.
Captain Habibur Rahman, principal officer of Mercantile Marine Department of Bangladesh, inaugurated the construction work on Friday as chief guest along with Saiful Islam, chairman of Western Marine and its managing director Sakhawat Hossain.
Captain Habibur Rahman admired the initiative taken by the shipyard and hoped its innovation will further benefit the country’s economy.
Under a joint venture with Fishers Shipyard Limited, the shipyard has designed the trawlers capable of mid-sea trawling and sustainable in sea state-4 and they will be able to cope with the rough weather in the Bay of Bengal where our fishing trawlers operate.
Four trawlers of 41- metre length will cost BDT 230 million each and two others of 42- metre will cost BDT 280 million each. JK Group has ordered for four trawlers while QNS Group ordered for two. They will be built under the supervision of French classification society Bureau Veritas.
Such trawlers used to be imported from China and Thailand in the past.
Technological development and initiatives by Western Marine and Fishers Shipyard will now save huge amount of foreign currencies on account of fishing trawlers, market operators said.
BBN/SSR/AD-21Apr12-11:10 am (BST)
