Bangladesh Shipping Corporation on the path to profitability with new ships

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has strengthened its international trade operations by adding two modern bulk carriers to its fleet. The ships, MV Banglar Pragati and MV Banglar Nabajatra, were delivered from China’s Xinjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding Company Limited on October 23, 2025, and January 29, 2026, respectively.

Representatives from BSC and the Ministry of Shipping attended the delivery, along with officials, ship masters, engineers, sailors, and stakeholders from classification societies and the buyer’s team.

Currently, the ships operate on international routes. Banglar Pragati is docked at Gdansk port in Poland, while Banglar Nabajatra is in Singapore. Both are chartered daily at around $20,000 per day, generating approximately Tk 500 million since joining the fleet.

The procurement followed approval by the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement on August 17, 2025. BSC signed an agreement with Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC on September 21, 2025, following an international tender launched on June 4, 2025. The project, approved by the Ministry of Shipping, runs from June 2025 to June 2027 with an estimated cost of Tk 1,16,296.24 lakh. Each ship cost $38.349 million, totaling $76.698 million, 4.6% below the initial estimate of $80.40 million.

Technical verification of the ships was carried out on-site with assistance from classification society experts, ensuring the vessels meet international standards.

The new ships feature modern, environmentally friendly technology, including the Green Ship Concept, IMO Tier-3 engines, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), Exhaust Gas Boilers (EGB), Contra Rotating Propellers (CRP), modern hulls without bulbous bows, and aerodynamic bridges. These features improve fuel efficiency, speed, and reduce emissions. The main engines are German-licensed MAN-B&W (assembled in China), with pumps from Spain and compressors from Norway.

BSC is planning further expansion. A loan agreement for two crude oil tankers and two bulk carriers on a government-to-government basis was signed on March 11, 2026. A project evaluation for two product oil tankers of 40,000–55,000 deadweight tons is ongoing and will be presented to ECNEC.

Currently, seven BSC ships fly the Bangladeshi flag on routes across Asia, Africa, Europe, the United States, and Australia. These vessels have passed inspections from international bodies such as the US Coast Guard (USCG), Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), SIRE, and RightShip.

Thanks to efficient management and adherence to international standards, BSC tankers Banglar Agradut and Banglar Agrajatra are commercially engaged with Maersk Tankers A/S and Cargill Ocean Transportation (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Through profitable charters, multi-purpose cargo transport (fertilizers, crude oil, product oil, and chemicals), and transparent procurement, BSC earned Tk 800 crore in revenue and a net profit of Tk 306 crore in FY 2024-25 — the highest in its 54-year history.