Indian Company in fray for supplying dredgers to BD

DHAKA: Kolkata-based vessel maker, Merolyn Engineering Works Pvt Ltd, is in the race to supply six dredgers worth $600 million (Rs 3,300 crore nearly) to Bangladesh, news Business Line.

Merolyn constructs jetties, pontoons, gangways, cargo lighters, pump barges and different types of motor launches. The company supplies ship building to Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd and 300T Sullage Barge under sub-contract to the Indian Navy.

The company has, along with Dutch shipbuilder IHC Merwede and infrastructure major Royal Infraconstru Ltd, already bid for two tenders, one each by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and the Mongla Port, said Kakoli Mitra, Managing Director of Merolyn.

It was learnt that the Bangladesh Government would use $600 million of the $1-billion loan by EXIM Bank of India (Indian line of credit) to procure these dredgers.

Merolyn has so far participated in the Bangladesh Inland Waterways Transport`s tender for three dredgers floated last month and Mongla Port’s tender for one dredger on August 7.

“We are gearing up for the third tender by the Bangladesh Water Development Board for two dredgers to be held on August 28,” Mitra said.

According to Mitra, the Bangladesh Government would procure three 20-inch and another set of three 18-inch dredgers through these tenders.

Other bidders from India include Goa Shipyard Ltd under the Ministry of Defence, Bharati Shipyard Ltd and Tebma Shipyards Ltd. Some European companies too are in the fray, it is learnt.

BDST: 1054 HRS, AUG 10, 2012
Edited by: Maria Salam, Asst Output Editor