Western Marine builds patrol ship for Kenya

Western Marine Shipyard yesterday launched an offshore patrol vessel for the Kenyan government.

This is the first ever offshore patrol vessel—Doria—built in Bangladesh, the Chittagong-based ship maker said in a statement.

The 54.7-metre vessel that has a speed of 35 knots would be operated in the Indian ocean of East Africa for Kenya. The ship was built for Danish Buyer JGH Marine A/S, Denmark.

The ship would be used by the Blue Economy wing of the Ministry of Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture of Kenya. JGH Marine and the Kenyan government signed an agreement for the ship in 2012.

Western Marine is currently engaged in building 35 ships for Kenya, India, Norway, UAE and some government and private organisations of Bangladesh.

Md Sakhawat Hossain, managing director of Western Marine, said Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry has made a good reputation in the global market through export of quality products on time.

A total of 40 ships were exported in the last five years enabling the country to fetch more than $150 million. Western Marine alone exported 25 of those ships, he added.