Largest container ship to be scrapped in Bangladesh

The largest container ship in Bangladesh's history, Kokura, will be scraped in Chattorgram's Sitakunda Shipbreaking Yard.

The ship, owned by Greek shipping giant Kostmayer, is the largest scrap container ship in the country till date.

In the past, large oil tankers were scrapped here. But this is the largest container ship so far which is also less toxic, the yard owners said.

Braemar ACM Shipbroking – one of the world's largest shipbroking companies, with broking offices in the UK, USA, Australia, China, Singapore, Dubai, Brazil and India – said the ship would be scrapped in Bangladesh.

The ship was built in 1997 with a capacity of 7,403 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU). It is 318 metres long and 43 metres wide.

Cash buyer company Somap bought the ship from the broker company.

Somap then sold it to Bangladesh at $323 per least date tonne (LDT).  And considering this, the price of the ship is Tk89.80 crore.

"That Bangladesh purchased such a ship is quite positive for the shipbreaking industry, which will create more trust among international shipping companies," said PHP Ship Breakers and Recyclers Limited Managing Director Mohammad Zahirul Islam.

"Bangladesh came out on top by importing 236 scrap ships in 2019, overtaking India."

Alphaliner provided interesting information about Kokura which was built by Danish company Maersk in its defunct Odense Steel Shipyard.

It was one of the six ships built by AP Moller Maersk – an integrated container logistics company – in 1993. Also, it was the largest of its kind at that time.

Usually, such ships are scrapped in modern and green yards.

"As per international laws, the government should allow a company which has previous experience and ability to scrap these types of ships while maintaining environmental norms," said Mohammad Shahin, coordinator of non-government development organisation Young Power in Social Action.