Third landing craft tank launched at Khulna Shipyard

KHULNA, Oct 24: The third of three landing craft tanks (LCTs) being built for the Bangladesh Navy (BN) was launched at Khulna Shipyard Limited (KSY) on Saturday morning.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Maksud Alam, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Material), inaugurated the launching ceremony of the vessel, named LCT-104, at the shipyard.

The vessels are being built as part of the BN’s modernisation programme and efforts to enhance its three-dimensional operational capabilities. Senior military and civilian officials and other stakeholders attended the ceremony.

According to Khulna Shipyard, each LCT will be capable of carrying 350 military personnel, six tanks, 12 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), or 18 military vehicles. 

The vessels will play an important role in joint amphibious operations by the Army and Navy, transportation of special forces, and movement of heavy military equipment to coastal and island areas. Besides military operations, the vessels can be used for disaster management, rescue operations, humanitarian assistance, training and supply delivery to remote coastal areas.

KSY authorities said the LCTs, built following Canadian designs, would be the largest vessels of their type in the BN’s existing fleet.

They are being constructed using AH36-grade steel and are equipped with Caterpillar engines manufactured in the US, along with generators and electronic equipment supplied by various Western companies.

Located on 69 acres of land on the bank of the Rupsha River, KSY was established in 1957 with technical assistance from West Germany. The shipyard was handed over to the BN on October 3, 1999.

According to the KSY, it has so far built more than 800 ships and watercraft and repaired over 2,500 vessels. It has been building and repairing vessels for various government and private organisations.

The launch of LCT-104 is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and advancing its domestic shipbuilding industry.