The Largest Fishing Trawler in Bangladesh Passes Sea Trials

F.T. Agro Food-1, the largest fishing trawler in Bangladesh at present, built by Western Fishers Shipyard Ltd (WFSL), a joint venture between Western Marine Shipyard & Fishers Shipyard, successfully completed its trials in the Bay of Bengal last week. Western Marine Shipyard has provided the full technical know-how in this venture.

F.T. Agro Food-1 is 42m Deep Sea Mid-Water Fishing Trawler, which is the first of its kind ever made in Bangladesh. This ship is the first from a series of three sister vessels WFSL has built for Agro Food Ltd. The other two sister vessels F.T. Agro Food-2 & F.T. Agro Food-4 will be ready for trials by next month. Each of these fishing vessels is being built at a cost of BDT28cr. The design of these ships originates from Iceland. These trawlers will be able to cope with the rough waters of the Bay of Bengal and capable of trawling into deeper seas. They are equipped with anti roll-tank, kaplan propeller, kort nozzle, bulbous bow, powerful engine & bollard pull, which made the vessels fit for fishing in the Bay of Bengal in the monsoon period.

The trawlers will also incorporate hi-tech German made refrigeration system, which can process the fish at -50deg core temp. The system includes processing deck, slurry ice machine, chill water maker, blast freezer and store freezer which will maintain the freshness and best quality of the caught fish.  Each trawler has a carrying capacity of 300 tons of fish. They are powered with 1850 BHP engine, 800 KW generator power of & have a pulling capacity 26 tons. The main engine & gen-set of the ships are US made.

Most of the steel used for the construction of the fishing trawlers is second hand, imported from Thailand & China.

WFSL mainly concentrates on new building of fishing trawlers. Western Fishers is the first shipyard in the country to have initiated new building of Mid Water Fishing Trawlers. Besides they are also building nine more fishing trawlers for local owners. This way WFSL has secured a share of 300 crore in the shipbuilding market of fishing trawlers.

[mappress]
Press Release, March 25, 2013