Bangladesh to acquire 2 tankers from China
Bangladesh will procure two mother tankers from China at a cost of US$ 100 million. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) and China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation (CPTDC) at the Shipping Ministry in the Secretariat yesterday. BSC Managing Director, Commodore Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan, and CPTDC Vice-President, Fan Shihong, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations. Shipping Minister, Shajahan Khan, and Shipping Secretary, Ashok Madhab Roy, were present during the MoU signing ceremony. Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Shajahan Khan said that the mother tankers will reach the country within two years after signing of the Construction Agreement. Loading capacity of each tanker will be 100,000-1,25,000 tonnes. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will be able to transport imported crude oil from abroad to Chittagongs outer anchorage after construction of the tankers, the Shipping Minister said and added that the mother tankers will be constructed on a Government to Government (G2G) basis at an estimated cost of around US$ 50 million per tanker. This will help us reduce dependency on foreign ships and also save precious foreign currency. Besides, it will ensure security in transportation of very sensitive items, like crude oil. New job opportunities will also be created for the cadets who pass out from the Marine Academy, Shajahan Khan said.
