Keraniganj turns shipbuilding zone
Keraniganj, a suburb of the capital Dhaka, is set to emerge as a potential shipbuilding zone.
Lying along the Buriganga, once the lifeline for Dhaka, Keraniganj already boasts of at least 60 shipyards and hundred dockyards that employ some 20,000 workers.
Although the industry is based almost on the old pattern and technology, it still holds a sound future.
According to sources, 60 to 70 ships are built and more than 500 are being repaired every year.
Around eight to 10 types of vessels such as water vessels, passenger vessels and MPC vessels are being built and repaired in the area.
Industry owners said that uninterrupted electricity and gas supplies for the sector may open up a new era of economic development in addition to creating hundreds of jobs for people in the region.
Filling up the local demand, the shipyard companies are exporting small and medium-sized ships and water vessels to some foreign countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Norway, Kenya and Tanzania.
In competition with the European market, the locally-made ships are compared with those of giants such as China, Japan and South Korea.
An official of Southmarine Dockyard and Shipbuilders said if commodity supplies are sufficiently available, building a mid-sized cargo ship with a capacity to carry 1500-2500 tonnes takes 10 to 12 months, and costs around Tk 5 crore while the repair cost is Tk 20 lakh.
Again, larger cargo ships with a capacity to carry 3,500 tons, costs about Tk 10 crore.
During a spot visit, it was found that some cargo ships and passenger vessels were undergoing repairs. With a specific timeframe, the ship will be coloured, welded and have machinery installed at the docks.
While talking to Bangladesh Post, Masud Hossen Polash, owner of Hossain Dockyards and Engineering Works, said, “We usually repair all types of water vessels here. The range of work is increasing by the day. We often don’t have enough space to keep the vessels.”
When contacted, AKM Alauddin managing director of Radiant Shipyard Ltd, said, “We had to import water vessels from abroad previously. Now, the trend has changed. With advanced technology and skilled manpower, we are providing qualitative ships that are fulfilling the local demand. We only import engines from England, Germany, Japan and China.”
“Our shipping industry could flourish if more skilled men and technology were in operation, and properly exploited as in European countries.”
Lying along the Buriganga, once the lifeline for Dhaka, Keraniganj already boasts of at least 60 shipyards and hundred dockyards that employ some 20,000 workers.
Although the industry is based almost on the old pattern and technology, it still holds a sound future.
According to sources, 60 to 70 ships are built and more than 500 are being repaired every year.
Around eight to 10 types of vessels such as water vessels, passenger vessels and MPC vessels are being built and repaired in the area.
Industry owners said that uninterrupted electricity and gas supplies for the sector may open up a new era of economic development in addition to creating hundreds of jobs for people in the region.
Filling up the local demand, the shipyard companies are exporting small and medium-sized ships and water vessels to some foreign countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Norway, Kenya and Tanzania.
In competition with the European market, the locally-made ships are compared with those of giants such as China, Japan and South Korea.
An official of Southmarine Dockyard and Shipbuilders said if commodity supplies are sufficiently available, building a mid-sized cargo ship with a capacity to carry 1500-2500 tonnes takes 10 to 12 months, and costs around Tk 5 crore while the repair cost is Tk 20 lakh.
Again, larger cargo ships with a capacity to carry 3,500 tons, costs about Tk 10 crore.
During a spot visit, it was found that some cargo ships and passenger vessels were undergoing repairs. With a specific timeframe, the ship will be coloured, welded and have machinery installed at the docks.
While talking to Bangladesh Post, Masud Hossen Polash, owner of Hossain Dockyards and Engineering Works, said, “We usually repair all types of water vessels here. The range of work is increasing by the day. We often don’t have enough space to keep the vessels.”
When contacted, AKM Alauddin managing director of Radiant Shipyard Ltd, said, “We had to import water vessels from abroad previously. Now, the trend has changed. With advanced technology and skilled manpower, we are providing qualitative ships that are fulfilling the local demand. We only import engines from England, Germany, Japan and China.”
“Our shipping industry could flourish if more skilled men and technology were in operation, and properly exploited as in European countries.”
(the article was first published on Bangladesh Post)
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