Bangladesh yard inks German deal

The Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd (ASSL) in Bangladesh has signed a $67 million agreement with Hermann Lohmann Bereederunges GmbH & Co, Germany, to build four sea-going vessels.

Under the deal, ASSL will build and deliver the 7,100 DWT multipurpose vessels by 2012. It is the third German company to order newbuildings from ASSL and the yard is currently building two 10 multipurpose cargo vessels for two Germen owners. With this latest order, the order book stands at about $217million for 16 vessels.

Industry sources claim that about 300 small and large shipyards are now operating in Bangladesh employing about 100,000 people.