The shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh has stepped into the Pacific by securing a new order from New Zealand. Western Marine Shipyard has signed contract with New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for building a new Unrestricted International SOLAS passenger ship.
The ship will be built for Tokelau, a non- self governing territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. The Administration of Tokelau will use the ship to carry passengers from Tokelau to Samoa Islands which is a voyage of few days. The contract value of the project is $6.6m and the shipyard expects to complete the project by December 2014.
Through this contract signing for the first time a Bangladeshi shipyard will export a ship which has been designed to sail in the Pacific Ocean. She will be built under class Lloyd’s Register, UK and will have highest safety measures considering all possible risks at sea. The ship will be having a carrying capacity of 60 passengers in addition to 50 tonnes of cargo and supplies.
Considering the sea state & duration of the voyage, passenger comfort will be the highest priority while building this vessel. The 43 m long ship will be spacious to provide maximum comfort to the passengers, equipped with 24 bunk beds, 16 reclining seats, a children’s play area, open deck area for passengers, a sick bay and a comfortable accommodation for12 crew.
The ship will also be able to carry five 10ft containers including two reefer containers and a crane for loading/unloading cargo will also be provided. Environment friendliness is also a prime concern for the ship as per the class notation. Thus, modern technologies will be used to minimize fuel burning. Therefore, achievement of such newbuilding contract has taken the shipbuilding industry to a new dimension.
Source: The Maritime Executive
