Dutch-Australia consortium Gentium-Damen to construct world class shipyard in Bangladesh

[Black_cats]

Dutch-Australia consortium Gentium-Damen to construct world class shipyard in Bangladesh
BSS . Dhaka | Update: 21:44, Jan 13, 2020

https://en.prothomalo.com/economy/news/207918/Dutch-Australia-consortium-Gentium-Damen-to

The Gentium-Damen Consortium Group, a joint venture of Dutch based Damen Group and Australia based Gentium Solutions, is set to construct a new world class shipyard at Char Nissanbaria and Madhyopara Mouza near the Payra port under Patuakhali district.

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be inked on tomorrow (Tuesday) between Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) and Gentium-Damen Consortium Group at industries ministry conference room in the city.

Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun will be present at the signing function as the chief guest while State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder will attend as the special guest.

Industries Secretary Abdul Halim will preside over the function.

Secretary of the BSEC engineer Md Abul Khayer Sardar and area director for Asia Pacific of the Dutch conglomerates Damen Group Roland Briene and co-chairman of the Gentium Solutions Group (Australia) Ikthedar Hassan Murad will sign the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

Talking to BSS, Ikthedar Hassan Murad said Gentium-Damen Consortium Group will take steps for feasibility study to develop the world class shipyard after signing the MoU.

“We are running shipyard in more than 35 countries, including China, Vietnam and Poland. This will be our first shipyard in a South Asian country. After the feasibility study, we can assess our investment in the project,” he added.

Murad said they will complete the feasibility study within one year and focus on export related products.

As per the industries ministry, the key aim of this MoU is to bring together Global Tier 1 European Shipbuilding and Marine experience, global best practices into the business of Bangladesh, and bring a deep understanding of and a passion for Bangladesh with a desire to assist the country on its exciting development path.

Construction of the proposed facility will see the introduction and transfer of cutting-edge industry knowledge and expertise to Bangladesh and provide strong employment for the region.

It is envisioned that many ships and vessels produced at the proposed
shipbuilding facility will be designed and built specifically for the export market, driving remittances into Bangladesh and building sustainable employment.

The shipbuilding facility will also assist the local Bangladesh market with the task of meeting the very high levels of demand for dredging equipment, (shallow draft) ships, and large-scale cargo ships.

The proposed shipbuilding facility will also have the capacity to produce more sophisticated scientific, research, exploration, and defence equipment in the coming years.

The construction and operation of the proposed Shipbuilding Facility will assist in addressing the current problems associated with the capacity of the Bangladesh shipping industry to construct and supply enough vessels to meet current and future market requirements, some of which are more particularly detailed in the Vision 2041 and Delta Plan 2100.

 

[Bilal9]

Wow the other shoe has indeed dropped. Well there you go Bangalis, Payra is the possible site for the six new frigate builds? Makes sense to me.

 

[UKBengali]

Wow the other shoe has indeed dropped. Well there you go Bangalis, Payra is the possible site for the six new frigate builds? Makes sense to me.

Not sure bhai as CDDL was publicly announced as the site of the building of the next-gen frigates. I think this shipyard will only build civilian ships.

The fact that this massive shipbuilding group will be building their first shipyard for S Asia in BD speaks volumes of how much confidence they have in BD.

 

[bluesky]

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be inked on tomorrow (Tuesday) between Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) and Gentium-Damen Consortium Group at industries ministry conference room in the city.

Talking to BSS, Ikthedar Hassan Murad said Gentium-Damen Consortium Group will take steps for feasibility study to develop the world class shipyard after signing the MoU.

By reading the title of the news I thought the deal has been finalized and the consortium will start construction of the yard. But, it is an MoU and the Consortium will do the feasibility study from now.

Nevertheless, I hope it will finally decide to build the shipyard on BD soil.

 

[Bilal9]

Not sure bhai as CDDL was publicly announced as the site of the building of the next-gen frigates. I think this shipyard will only build civilian ships.

The fact that this massive shipbuilding group will be building their first shipyard for S Asia in BD speaks volumes of how much confidence they have in BD.

Well if Bangladesh has been building large blue water vessels in the coastal areas (going to and from Indochina) since like the fifth/sixth century (and probably much earlier even), and given present day low labor cost locally and existing shipyard talent, this is only natural. What other minuscule area in the subcontinent (or even Asia) is criss-crossed by 350 plus rivers - not many.

When I said above that the other shoe has dropped, the first shoe I meant as apparel industry. While girls make garments, the boys can go build ships. Who could ask for more?

With IT, Pharma, electronics and durable goods (TV, Motorcycles, Aircons, Refrigerators), this was a prime export thrust sector probably ahead of the rest. I have high hopes.

The important thing is we have Damen on board. With Damen's superb design expertise in ultra-modern shipyard design (also top grade naval architecture) and low cost Bangladeshi labor, it is a dynamite combination for fabricating ultramodern ocean-going vessels at extremely competitive pricing levels.
A match made in Heaven and a hearty welcome to Damen!

Here is the communique in Damen's website,

14 January 2020

On 14th January, Gentium and Damen Shipyards Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry of Bangladesh in Dhaka. Also present at the signing ceremony were representatives of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, who are supporting Gentium-Damen in their undertaking.

The goal of the MoU is to establish and develop a shipbuilding and ship repair industry in the Bangladesh. The aim is to build ships in Bangladesh, for Bangladesh, with a long-term view of serving export markets. The partners in the MoU will undertake a number of tasks in this direction.

First amongst these will be the establishment of a shipbuilding and repair facility built to globally recognised environmental and building standards. The standard of the facility will be sufficient for the construction and delivery of seagoing vessels able to compete in the global marketplace.

As part of their role in the MoU, Gentium-Damen will facilitate a transfer of technology and knowledge to help Bangladeshi personnel develop the skills required to serve the international maritime industry. As a result of this, the MoU will create significant training and employment opportunities within Bangladesh.

Area Director Asia Pacific of Damen Shipyards Group Roland Briene, who signed the MoU on behalf of Damen, said, “We are very pleased to be participating in this MoU. Damen has a long track record of skills and knowledge transfer of which we are immensely proud. It is our philosophy and practice to help develop the shipbuilding and maritime industries in the countries in which we operate. This includes investing in the establishment of high quality facilities and equipment and the training of local personnel. Time and again we have witnessed this leading to the establishment of sustainable shipbuilding initiatives able to serve the global marketplace. We are very much looking forward to applying our experience, along with our partners Gentium and the Ministry of Industry, here in Bangladesh.”

On the photo:
Gentium and Damen Shipyards Group sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry of Bangladesh in Dhaka in presence of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh