Fire-damaged Banglar Jyoti, Shourabh to be sold as scrap for Tk40.44cr
Both tankers were severely damaged by fire incidents last year
The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has decided to sell its fire-damaged oil tankers, M T Banglar Jyoti and M T Banglar Shourabh, as scrap for Tk40.44 crore to Chattogram-based company Master & Brothers, a key player in the industry, specializes in dismantling and recycling old vessels.
The decision was finalized at a board meeting of BSC, held at the Ministry of Shipping in Dhaka today (14 January).
Speaking to The Business Standard, BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said, "A total of 16 companies participated in the tender process. Master & Brothers offered the highest bid of Tk40.44 crore. As per tender regulations, the vessels will be sold as scrap to the highest bidder."
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Engineer Md Mohsin, owner of Master & Brothers, said, "We have not yet received official confirmation from BSC. Once acquired, the vessels will be dismantled at our ship-breaking yard and sold as scrap."
An auction notice for the vessels, in their current scrap condition, was issued on 5 December last year, and the tender was opened on 7 January.
Both vessels suffered extensive damage in separate fire incidents last year. On 30 September, a blaze broke out on Banglar Jyoti while it was docked at the Dolphin Jetty in Chattogram port, resulting in the deaths of three crew members.
Just days later, on 5 October, Banglar Shourabh caught fire while unloading oil at the port's outer anchorage, claiming the life of another crew member.
Following these incidents, BSC decided to discontinue the use of the two aging vessels for oil transportation.
According to BSC data, both vessels were built in 1988, with each weighing 3,787 metric tons. Over their 38 years of service, the tankers transported crude oil from mother vessels at the Chattogram port's outer anchorage to the Eastern Refinery jetty.
Despite being single-hull tankers—banned from transporting oil via sea routes since 2015 under International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations—Banglar Jyoti and Banglar Shourabh continued operations with special government permissions.
BSC officials added that the proceeds from the sale would be used to improve the corporation's fleet and infrastructure.
