DHAKA : A state-owned cargo ship - ‘MV Banglar Joyjatra’ - of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) today successfully crossed the internationally risky Strait of Hormuz.

The ship is currently moving towards the waters of Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to complete safe bunkering and necessary clearance procedures.

All the 31 crew working on the ship are Bangladeshi citizens, who are completely safe, a handout said.

‘MV Banglar Joyjatra’ entered the waters of the Middle East on January 26. Initially, the ship was loaded with 39,000 tonnes of steel coils from Mesaieed Port in Qatar and brought those to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE. However, while the ship was at Jebel Ali Port, intense regional military conflict and war broke out in the region on February 28 last, reports BSS.

Although the ship’s cargo unloading process was severely threatened due to the outbreak of war, the steel coil cargo was successfully unloaded at Jebel Ali Port on March 11, amidst the risks of war.

When the cargo unloading was completed, it became uncertain for the ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to the war situation.

In this situation, since the ship would not sit idle and the charterer’s ‘hire’ or daily rent would not be disrupted in any way, the ship was sent to the port of Ras Al Khair in Saudi Arabia and from there, loaded with about 37,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, it was sent to the ports of Cape Town and Durban in South Africa.

On April 18, the Iranian Navy officially refused the ship’s transit permission through the Strait of Hormuz, citing security and strategic reasons. As a result, the ship was blocked for a long time.

During this crisis period, there was no shortage of necessary logistics such as drinking water, food, supplies and fuel for the ship’s 31 Bangladeshi sailors. In addition to the normal facilities, a special meal allowance of US$ 5 per day, special Eid incentives and ‘war wages’ have been provided subject to special approval to maintain physical and mental peace of the sailors.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep concern over this crisis and has kept a close watch on the matter at all times and provided necessary directives.

At the same time, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Shipping Md Razib Ahsan and Shipping Secretary Zakaria have regularly inquired with the ship’s captain and sailors through videoconference and phone calls and have extended all kinds of cooperation to boost their morale.

BSC expressed its deep gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister Md Razib Ahsan, Shipping Secretary Zakaria, the Managing Director of BSC, top management of BSC and the brave sailors of the ship for this glorious and historic achievement.