Bangladesh has exported a ship to Turkey for the first time, marking another milestone for the country’s growing shipbuilding industry. The vessel was built and delivered by Ananda Shipyard & Slipways Ltd to Turkey’s Nopac Shipping & Trading Ltd.
The handover ceremony was held on Sunday at Ananda Shipyard’s Meghna Ghat premises in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. Adviser to the Ministries of Industry and Housing & Public Works, Adilur Rahman Khan, attended as chief guest.
Among others present were Ananda Group Managing Director Mrs. Afruza Bari, Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Zahidul Islam Mia, Sonargaon UNO Farzana Rahman, Turkish Embassy’s Commercial Counsellor Bilal Belyut, and Nopac Shipping officials including Proprietor Kerim Ens, Director Omer Semiz, and Fatih Aslan.
Speaking on the occasion, Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said, “After the garments sector, shipbuilding is one of Bangladesh’s most significant industries. To advance this sector, we need to bring diversity and make shipbuilding laws more time-befitting. We will enact the necessary legislation, and the next elected government will implement it. The shipbuilding industry should also play a role in national defense.”
Ananda Shipyard Chairman Abdullahil Bari said the industry continues to struggle with long-term financing. “Shipbuilding requires substantial funding, but banks are often reluctant to provide the required capital. Government support is essential to accelerate the industry’s growth, which can contribute significantly to the country’s development,” he noted.
About the Exported Vessel
The exported vessel, WES WIRE, is 341 feet long, 55 feet wide, and 25 feet deep, with a carrying capacity of 5,500 tons. It can transport steel coils, coal, fertilizer, food grains, and other hazardous materials. Equipped with a 2,735 horsepower engine, the ship can sail at 12 knots per hour while carrying full cargo.
Ananda Shipyard has previously exported ships to Denmark, Germany, Norway, Mozambique, and the United Kingdom. With over 350 ships delivered to both domestic and international clients, the company is regarded as Bangladesh’s largest ship exporter. It first entered the global market in 2008 by exporting the container vessel Stella Maris to Denmark.
Prospects for Bangladesh Shipbuilding
Industry experts believe Bangladesh could earn up to $2 billion annually if the country becomes self-reliant in shipbuilding and develops deep-sea fishing vessels and processing industries. They also pointed out that the sector could play a key role in advancing Bangladesh’s blue economy.
Currently, Bangladesh has more than 30 large shipyards, with several already exporting vessels. The country’s shipbuilding capacity is estimated at about $1 billion annually, with potential to export up to 20 ships each year, mainly in the small-to-medium-sized vessel segment of up to 12,000 DWT—an area where global demand remains strong.
Officials at Ananda Shipyard emphasized that the company’s 900,000 square foot facility is capable of constructing up to eight vessels of 10,000 tons simultaneously. The yard specializes in dredgers and technologically advanced ships, setting benchmarks for the country’s shipbuilding industry.