India and Bangladesh have strengthened their defence cooperation with a new agreement following Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to India. As part of the deal, the Bangladesh Navy has commissioned India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineers (GRSE) to build an 800-tonne oceangoing tug. This tug will be financed through a line of credit from India. Furthermore, GRSE has also secured a contract to construct a dredger for Bangladesh. The oceangoing tug supports towing, berthing, and rescue operations, even in challenging sea conditions.
The two nations have also pledged to deepen their collaboration in maritime security, space technology, and counterterrorism. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi also reached Dhaka on 30th June on a four-day official tour to Bangladesh to bolster the longstanding bilateral defence relations and explore new opportunities for naval cooperation.
GRSE, a key player in the Defence Exports arena, has been making waves with its international partnerships. On 30th June, an agreement was signed with the Directorate General, Defence Purchase, Ministry of Defence, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for the construction of an advanced Ocean-Going Tug. This was followed by another significant contract to deliver a Trailing Suction Hopper (TSH) dredger. On 22nd June, GRSE further strengthened its global presence by entering into an agreement with a German company to deliver at least four multi-purpose cargo vessels, as per the GRSE’s official statement.
#BOOSTINGDEFENCEEXPORTS – GRSE TO BUILD ADVANCED OCEAN GOING TUG FOR BANGLADESH NAVY
Kolkata (July 01, 2024): Keeping up the tempo in the arena of Defence Exports, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd signed an agreement with the Directorate General, Defence… pic.twitter.com/oyhwtlfagy
— GRSE – Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (@OfficialGRSE) July 1, 2024
The tug’s overall length (LOA) will be nearly 61 meters, and the vessel will be about 15.80 meters wide with a depth of almost 6.80 meters. The tug’s draught requirement with a full load will be around 4.80 meters, while its bollard pull capacity will be 76 Tons ahead and 50 Tons astern. The statement states that the ship’s maximum speed with a full load will be at least 13 knots.
The tug’s primary roles will include towing ships at sea, both alongside and astern, assisting them during berthing and casting off and helping them turn through pushing and pulling. The vessel can also carry out rescue and salvage operations at sea. Its secondary roles will be to provide firefighting support to ships at sea and limited pollution control measures. The platform will be highly robust and capable of operating even at sea state 5 (wind speeds of 17-21 knots and wave heights of 2-3 metres) with dynamic positioning – 2 system capability. The company said that this advanced computer-controlled system allows a ship to maintain its heading and position without using mooring lines or anchors.
Team BharatShakti
