Shipping Corp to acquire two vessels for $77m

State-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has finalised a deal to buy two new ships from US-based Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC for $76.69 million.

BSC will acquire the ships from China using its own funds. The decision was taken at a board meeting on September 17, according to a disclosure published on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) website yesterday.

Earlier, on August 12, the cabinet committee on government purchase approved the procurement of two bulk carriers, each with a carrying capacity of 63,500 deadweight tonnage (DWT).

The ships are currently under construction at Nanyang Shipyard in China and are expected to be delivered by November.

This marks the first time that BSC is using its own funds to finance such an acquisition.

At present, the state-run shipping company owns five vessels: two bulk carriers and three chemical and oil tankers.

BSC saw its profit rise in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2024–25 as its revenue increased due to higher fares and vessel sales.

The company posted a profit of Tk 75.50 crore, marking a 10 percent year-on-year rise.

As of August 31, 2025, the government held 52.10 percent of BSC's shares, while institutional investors owned 21.34 percent and general investors held the remaining 26.56 percent, according to DSE data.

Established in 1972, BSC plays a key role in Bangladesh's shipping industry, supporting the country's trade through its fleet of vessels.