MV Banglar Pragati, the largest bulk carrier in Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s (BSC) fleet purchased entirely with the corporation’s own funds, is set to anchor at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on its maiden voyage on November 20.
Built at China’s Nanyang Shipyard, the ship was handed over to BSC on October 23. The vessel was acquired from a US-based company through a competitive bidding process completed in just five months at a cost of Tk 936 crore.
Hong Kong-based LTE Company has chartered the ship, which is carrying 61,500 tons of slag for a cement factory, and dispatched it from China’s Dandong Port on November 4. The ship earns a daily charter rate of $20,000.
Measuring 199 meters in length and with a carrying capacity of 63,777 tons, the vessel is too large to dock at Chattogram Port’s jetty. The cargo will instead be unloaded at the outer anchorage after partial lighterage at Kutubdia. Seacom Shipping Lines Limited is acting as the local agent.
BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said, “This is the largest ship in BSC’s history purchased with our own funds. As this is its first voyage to Chattogram, it feels like returning home for us.”
Excluding older vessels, BSC currently operates six ships—three tankers and three bulk carriers. The fleet will expand to seven with the upcoming addition of another new ship, MV Bangla Nabajatra.
