Three newly built vessels from Bangladesh’s leading shipbuilder and exporter, Western Marine Shipyard in Chattogram, are being exported to the United Arab Emirates. The three landing crafts—Maya, SMS Emi and Muna—have been handed over to the UAE-based company Marwan Shipping and Trading Company LLC. The vessels are now fully prepared and anchored along the Karnaphuli River, awaiting their voyage to the UAE.
A formal delivery ceremony was held on Thursday, 20 November, onboard one of the anchored vessels in front of Western Marine’s shipyard in Patiya, Chattogram. The event was attended by the UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh, Abdullah Ali Abdullah Khasif Al Hammudi, as the chief guest.
The ceremony was conducted by Shahidul Bashar, Deputy General Manager of Western Marine Shipyard. Special guests included Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Abdur Rahim Khan, Managing Director of Marwan Shipping and Trading Company LLC Ahmed Mohammed Hussain Al Marzooqi, DIG of Chattogram Range Police Ahsan Habib, officials from the Coast Guard, and representatives of related agencies.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Al Hammudi said that the construction of three new landing crafts in Bangladesh for the UAE marks a new chapter in business cooperation between the two nations. He expressed confidence that the long-standing partnership between Western Marine and Marwan Shipping will expand further in the future, especially in the maritime sector.
Additional Secretary Abdur Rahim Khan noted that the involvement of the private sector, alongside government initiatives, has added a new dimension to Bangladesh’s export basket through shipbuilding.
According to the shipbuilder, all three vessels were constructed entirely according to the specifications of the UAE client. They are designed for offshore supply operations, cargo transport, and various commercial maritime activities. Following the handover formalities, the vessels will depart for the UAE.
Each landing craft measures 69 meters in length, 16 meters in breadth, and has a draft of 3 meters. Built following the standards of the international classification society Bureau Veritas, the vessels can travel at a speed of 10 knots. With approximately 700 square meters of clear deck space, they are suitable for transporting heavy equipment and bulk cargo.
Captain Sohel Hasan, Managing Director of Western Marine Shipyard, said the company received a major order last year from Marwan Shipping for eight vessels of different types. Among them, one landing craft named Rayan and two tugboats named Khalid and Ghaya have already been delivered. The handover of the three new landing crafts is part of this ongoing contract.
He added that global demand for Bangladeshi-built ships is once again on the rise, and the delivery of these vessels represents not only commercial success but also a positive signal for the entire shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh.
Shahidul Bashar, Deputy General Manager (Commercial) of Western Marine Shipyard, said each vessel of this type typically costs around 7 to 8 million US dollars to build at current market rates. For these three vessels, the client paid 2.2 million US dollars solely for workmanship. The shipyard completed construction and delivery preparations in less than a year.
According to Western Marine sources, the contract with Marwan Shipping includes a total of eight vessels: two tugboats, four landing crafts and two oil tankers. Of these, four landing crafts and two tugboats are being exported this year, while the remaining two oil tankers will be delivered by 2026.
