The Offshore Patrol Vessel OPV Doria built by Bangladesh's top ship builder Western Marine Shipyard Limited (WMS) was formally commissioned by the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mumbasa, Kenya last Monday (November 19)
OPV Doria was delivered by WMS to Kenyan Coast Guard at an impressive ceremony attended by the Finance Minister AMA Muhith as the chief guest at the Shipyard on August 13, last year.
The patrol vessel is the most hi-tech seagoing vessel built by a Bangladeshi shipyard so far and subsequently the builder - WMS as accorded the 'Best Large Patrol Boat Builder 2017' award by Baird Maritime, Australia.
The 'Doria' is a 54 meter long OPV equipped with modern equipment and hybrid propulsion system which enables the vessel to achieve maximum speed of 35knots (65km) per hour.
This is the first time an OPV of such high speed and standard has been exported from Bangladesh. The project cost was approximately $ 18 Million.
Built under class Bureau Veritas, the OPV shall be used to safeguard national fisheries stock & the Blue Economy of the Kenyan Maritime Territory. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in an statement "Doria will be used by the Kenya Coast Guard Service to patrol our territorial waters as we step up our efforts in protecting, and effectively harnessing our maritime resources.
The Coast Guard will ensure that our ocean will no longer be used for drug and human trafficking, illegal arms and illegal fishing. It will guard against exploitation of our natural resources by foreign countries and ensure that never again will a foreign vessel steal our fish."
WMS Managing Director Sakhawat Hossain said to protect its vast maritime boundary, Bangladesh require a lot of such kind of OPV and his firm is fully capable to build.
Seeking for government support and attention WMS Chairman Md. Saiful Islam in a statement said: "We have exported a best quality Offshore Patrol Vessel from our country which is today plying in the international borders, and we can easily meet our domestic demand for OPVs which is no longer required to be imported from other countries."
