Shipbuilders hope for comeback

A ship built by Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd is seen anchored. The shipbuilder has already exported eight vessels and is expecting more after a brief lull in orders.Photo: STARSohel Parvez

Bangladeshi shipbuilders look to better days as Ananda Shipyard and Slipways has recently received signals about a revival of its 'frozen' orders from buyers, the chairman of the company said yesterday.

“It's a relief. We have come out of a big problem. Orders for making four vessels, which were suspended earlier, have been revived recently,” said Abdullahel Bari, chairman of Ananda, one of the largest shipbuilders in the country.

“We also expect to get a go-ahead to start construction for 10 vessels, whose orders were held up earlier,” he told The Daily Star by phone.

Bari's expectation about a possible recovery from troubled times came after his company held discussions with agents of the buyers during the visit of a German business delegation to Bangladesh last week.

The delegation, comprising representatives from shipping companies, not only raised hopes for Ananda but for other shipbuilders as the mission, especially its leader Peter Clasen, praised skills of local shipbuilders, their openness to adopt modern technology and cost effectiveness.

Bari said Ananda was the victim of global recession that had earlier dried up demands for new ships and prompted cancellation of previously placed orders in shipyards including in Bangladesh.

Ananda fell in trouble after one of its German buyers Wessels Reederei GmbH & Co in May cancelled some $42 million orders for making four ships of 5,500 DWT (deadweight tonnage) capacities.

Bari said Wessels had placed orders for making six vessels of about $65 million.

The shipyard, which has already exported eight vessels, witnessed a holdback in orders for constructing 10 vessels of about $169 million for German buyers due to financial turmoil.

Referring to the discussions with the buyers during the visit of German delegation, the Ananda Shipyard chairman said the company representatives would visit Germany to finalise issues relating to beginning works for vessels, orders of which were kept on hold.

He blamed recession for a dip in the flow of new orders but expected that more orders from Germany would come in the months ahead as the business delegation found good quality of ships made in Bangladesh.

“We also expect to receive orders for making six new vessels with about 2,000 DWT capacity each,” said Bari.

Since 2005, two local shipbuilders -- Ananda and Western Marine Shipyard -- received orders for more than 40 vessels worth about $600 million from buyers including those from Denmark and Germany.

Md Saiful Islam, chairman of Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, also expected a boost in getting new orders from Germany following the latest visit of the delegation.

“They have shown keen interest in our shipbuilding industry because of our technical know-how, cheap labour and communication skill compared with those in other Asian countries,” said Islam.

“If political situation remains stable, we expect to receive orders worth about half a billion dollars within the first quarter of next year,” he said.

sohel@thedailystar.net