New Tug Delivered to Mongla Port Authority
The Mongla Port Authority in Bangladesh has taken delivery of its new tug, M.T. Joymoni.The newbuild is a RAmparts 3200-CL designed by Canada's Robert Allan Ltd. and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, in China.The RAmparts 3200-CL was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. in 2008 exclusively for Cheoy Lee Shipyards, with the first tug, Ocean Pioneer, delivered to Ocean Sparkle in India in 2011. Based on the RAmparts series, the hull form was developed to provide a high performance, multi-function tug in a shallow draft configuration, with bollard pull of up to 85 tonnes, the designer said.M.T.
Bangladesh Reopens Shela Route
The Bangladesh government has decided to allow vessels to ply through the Shela River in the Sundarbans, defying the recommendations of the UN experts and environmentalists. The decision came from an inter-ministerial meeting at the shipping ministry Tuesday with Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan in the chair, apparently in the face of pressure from river transport workers. The river was made off limits to shipping after a tanker capsized in the water streaming through the Sundarbans on December 9, spilling 3.58 lakh liters of crude oil into the world's largest mangrove forest and threatening its unique biodiversity. Carrying 357,664 l of furnace oil, the tanker ‘OT Southern Star 7’ went down after being hit by another vessel on the Shela at Mrigmari in the Sundarbans Chandpai range.
Port-Evo Proposes Hefty Bangladesh Port Development Investment
British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Northern Ireland William Hague made the proposal when he met the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite. She is in London to attend the Olympics. The proposal was made to develop the Mongla port under joint venture with Mongla Port Authorities. Port-Evo wants to invest for river dredging, procurement of new harbour cranes, container terminals, oil tank storage and water treatment plant. They also proposed establishing an oil and gas-fired power station costing $ 450 million and a special economic zone. Sheikh Hasina said the UK, the third largest destination of Bangladesh’s exports, is a time-tested friend and major development partner of Bangladesh.
Six-Day Strike Ends At Mongla Port
Mongla port workers ended a six-day strike on Thursday after being assured authorities would investigate the deaths of four people and the wounding of 100 others from police firing during the demonstration. "Workers resumed handling of cargo today after they were given assurances that an official probe will be conducted into the violent incident that led to the killing of the workers," a port official said. He said State Minister for Shipping and Ports, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, had given the assurance at a meeting with port union leaders on Wednesday. Police on Tuesday opened fire when about 2,000 workers, striking since Friday to demand the port employ more casual workers, tried to storm port offices.
