State-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) is closing in on an order for six more tankers and bulkers.
The shipowner has kickstarted a process of procurement for two 114,000-dwt aframaxes, two 80,000-dwt product tankers and two 80,000-dwt bulkers.
It is looking to China to build the vessels, and has started talks there over financing and construction, executive director of technical Md Yousuf told The Financial Express.
The impetus for the order has come from a directive from the ministry of shipping.
Minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury urged BSC officials to complete the deal.
A shipyard has not been named. In 2018 and 2019, the company took delivery of three handysize bulkers and three handysize tankers from Jiangsu New Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China
The company also has two smaller tankers built in 1987.
Big long-term plans
In 2019, BSC unveiled a long-term plan to add 32 tankers, bulkers, LNG carriers and boxships by 2041.
The aim is to cut back on charter fees of BDT 24bn ($284m) paid by the state each year to overseas owners, and boost profitability.
The targets included two chemical or crude carriers of between 30,000 dwt and 35,000 dwt, two tankers of between 100,000 dwt and 125,000 dwt, ten bulkers from 10,000 dwt to 15,000 dwt and four boxships ranging from 1,200 teu to 1,500 teu.
It also wants two diesel tankers of a minimum 80,000 dwt, two 80,000-dwt coal carriers and two LNG carriers of 140,000 cbm.
The company was established by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1972.
