Ananda Shipyard exported the Biggest Ship

Ananda Shipyard & Slipways Limited exported a vessel of 6100 DWT to Engian Shipping Company Limited of UK on 13th September. This is the biggest ship ever exported from Bangladesh.

This is Anand Shipyard’s second ship export after a 10-year slump since 2010.

The officials of Ananda Shipyard say that since 2018, Bangladesh’s ship industry has started regaining its position in the global market. After a long time, another ship of 5500 DWT was exported at the beginning of Corona in 2020. Now three more ships are waiting for export.

They say that due to the increase in demand for environmentally friendly ships in the European market, new orders have started coming in for ship export. Bangladesh is also now building environmentally friendly ships.

Not only Anand Shipyard, but other entrepreneurs of the country are also dreaming anew in the ship industry. Entrepreneurs are also planning to increase new investment in this sector due to the favorable environment for shipbuilding.

Chittagong-based shipbuilding company FMC Dockyard Limited has received a new work order from the Government of Sudan for the construction of ASD tugboats, with an export value of $13 million for these state-of-the-art vessels.

However, not everyone is so lucky.

Abdullah Hail Bari, Chairman of Anand Shipyard, said, “In 2008, we started exporting the first ship from Bangladesh by exporting the state-of-the-art container ship ‘Stella Maris’ to Denmark. After that, 11 ships were exported to different countries in just two years. Now the export market has opened again.”

He said, “Ananda Shipyard has been building international quality ships at Meghnaghat in Sonargaon for more than 30 years. The annual production capacity of the yard is about 30,000 tons. We have built and supplied 356 vessels to domestic and foreign buyers. We have the ability to do better in the export market.”

Bari is also the president of the Association of Export Oriented Shipbuilding Industry of Bangladesh. He said, “Shipbuilding industry provides the country with 15 thousand crore rupees annually. This number will reach 100 thousand crore rupees in 2041.”

Inaugurating the ship export of Anand Shipyard, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said, “Shipbuilding industry is a potential export sector. We have the expertise in modern shipbuilding. We expect that in future this industry will be able to earn export earnings close to that of the ready-made garment industry.”

He said, “Despite conquering the sea border, we have not been able to utilize the sea resources. We are far behind in this regard. It is necessary to advance this potential sector. The government is taking various steps giving importance to it. In this, the capacity of all ports including Chittagong, Matarbari, Mongla, Payra is being increased.”

Industry officials said that Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry is becoming important for small and medium ships in the world market. Although the sector caters mainly to the domestic market, exports have grown satisfactorily over the past decade.

About 90% of the country’s fuel, 70% of cargo and 35% of passengers are transported by sea, which has greatly increased the demand for ships within the country.

There are about 300 shipyards in the country, big and small; However, only 10 of these companies manufacture exportable vessels. About 3 lakh people are involved in this sector. While the domestic market is growing at the rate of 10 to 15%, the export market is growing at the rate of 5 to 6%.

According to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), there are currently more than 100 shipbuilding companies and more than 120 registered shipyards of various sizes.

Entrepreneurs say that there are about three hundred shipyards in the country, big and small. Of these, 10 make exportable ships; About three lakh people are involved in this sector.

The annual construction capacity of the vessel is currently pegged at around 20 for export orders. Locally built vessels for inland use include MPVs, containers, bulkers, tankers, dredgers, tugs and passenger ferries. These range in size from 1,000 to 20,000 DWT.