Western Marine Shipyard Ltd of Chattogram has delivered two high-powered tugboats, Khalid and Ghaya, to UAE’s Marwan Shipping Ltd, marking the 35th and 36th vessels exported since 2017. Valued at $1.6 million, the delivery is part of a 2023 $7.3 million contract for eight vessels, including tugboats, landing crafts, and oil tankers, with remaining ships scheduled for delivery by 2026. Ghaya is certified by the French Bureau Veritas, while Khalid is the first Bangladeshi-built ship classified by the American Bureau of Shipping, highlighting Bangladesh’s growing technical expertise. Officials emphasized the country’s potential in the $400 billion global shipbuilding market, with opportunities for billions in revenue and increased international recognition.
Leading shipbuilder Western Marine Shipyard Ltd has successfully delivered two high-powered tugboats to Marwan Shipping Ltd of the United Arab Emirates, as part of an ongoing export deal signed in 2023 for a total of eight vessels.
The two vessels — the 40-metre-long Khalid and the 32-metre-long Ghaya — were officially handed over during a ceremony aboard the Western Cruise ship at the Chattogram Boat Club jetty. The combined export value of the tugboats amounts to $1.53 million.
Under the agreement, Marwan Shipping supplies all raw materials, while Western Marine is responsible solely for construction, officials explained during the event.
Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on defence and national harmony, served as chief guest and highlighted that the global shipbuilding industry generates about $400 billion in annual revenue. He noted that Bangladeshi shipbuilders have the capability to manufacture half of the ships demanded globally and encouraged them to target at least one percent of the $200 billion ship segment.
Western Marine's Managing Director, Captain Sohail Hasan, added that both vessels are high-powered offshore support tugboats built to the highest classification standards, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in global shipbuilding.
According to Sohail, the tugboat Ghaya was built under the French classification society Bureau Veritas, while Khalid was constructed following the standards of the American Bureau of Shipping.
At the ceremony, Humaid Mohammed Abdullah Darwish Al Tamimi, charge d'affaires of the UAE Embassy in Dhaka, and Ahmed Almarzooqi, Managing Director of Marwan Shipping Ltd, also addressed the attendees.
In 2023, Western Marine signed a $7.3 million contract with Marwan Shipping for the construction of four landing craft vessels, two tugboats, and two oil tankers.
Earlier this year, the 69-metre landing craft Rayan was successfully delivered. The remaining five vessels are slated for delivery between 2025 and 2026.
Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, based in Chattogram, has earned $1.6 million through the export of two tugboats.
The vessels — Ghaya, an 80-tonne bollard pull ASD tug, and Khalid, a 65-tonne bollard pull AHT tug — were officially handed over to UAE-based Marwan Shipping Ltd today at the Chittagong Boat Club. The ceremony was attended by Humaid Mohammed Abdulla Darwish Al Tamimi, chargé d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy in Dhaka.
These tugboats mark the 35th and 36th ships Western Marine has exported since starting its international operations in 2017.
Ghaya was constructed under the Bureau Veritas classification, while Khalid received classification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), representing the first-ever ABS-classified ship built in Bangladesh.
Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser for Defence and National Solidarity Development, served as the chief guest and emphasized the vast potential of Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry within the $400 billion global market. He urged for increased domestic and foreign investment, noting that capturing even 1% of the market could generate $2 billion annually for Bangladesh.
Highlighting the significance of this milestone, he said Western Marine’s export of the two tugboats reflects the rising global recognition of the ‘Made in Bangladesh’ brand.
In his remarks, Khalid Almarzooqi, Managing Director of Marwan Shipping Ltd, stated that they are steadily acquiring eight different types of vessels from Western Marine and anticipate a demand for an additional 15 to 20 vessels in the future.
Captain Sohail Hasan, Managing Director of Western Marine, stated that the two tugboats are part of a broader 2023 contract with Marwan Shipping, which covers the construction of eight vessels: two tugboats, four landing craft, and two oil tankers. Under this agreement, the 69-metre landing craft Ryan was launched in January 2025, with the remaining five vessels scheduled for delivery by 2026.
Over the past 20 years, Western Marine has built more than 150 vessels across a wide range of types, including cargo ships, oil tankers, passenger ferries, offshore patrol vessels, fishing boats, landing crafts, tugboats, and container carriers.
Chattogram-based Western Marine Shipyard Ltd has once again made waves by delivering two state-of-the-art tugboats—Khalid and Ghaya—to UAE’s Marwan Shipping Ltd, marking the 35th and 36th vessels exported since 2017. Valued at $1.6 million, these powerful offshore support vessels symbolize Bangladesh’s rapidly rising prowess in a $400 billion global shipbuilding market.
This milestone is part of a landmark $7.3 million 2023 contract to build eight vessels, including tugboats, landing crafts, and oil tankers. Notably, Ghaya holds certification from the French Bureau Veritas, while Khalid is the first-ever Bangladeshi-built ship to receive classification by the American Bureau of Shipping—an unprecedented achievement showcasing the nation’s technical expertise.
Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz emphasized the massive potential for Bangladesh to capture at least 1% of the global market, translating into billions in revenue and international recognition. Meanwhile, Marwan Shipping’s Managing Director, Khalid Almarzooqi, expressed confidence in expanding their fleet with Bangladesh-made ships, eyeing 15 to 20 more vessels.
With over 150 diverse vessels constructed in two decades, Western Marine is not just building ships—they’re forging Bangladesh’s future as a global shipbuilding powerhouse.
