Aiming to provide better quality of service and safety, the country’s first passenger river vessel built using “double bottom engineering” has started its journey on the Dhaka-Barisal route.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury formally inaugurated the maiden voyage of “MV Manami”, owned by MS Salam Shipping Lines, at a ceremony on the vessel’s first floor at Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Wednesday.
Mentioning that the economic potential of the country’s river route is huge, the state minister said: “River route offers numerous economic opportunities in carrying passengers and goods, as well as export-import (facilities) for the country. This kind of luxurious service with improved service quality, passenger safety and comfort needs to be increase.”
The newly built vessel includes four VIP duplex and double cabins, three semi-VIP cabins, three family cabins and 144 double and single cabins, with dining facility and a coffee shop.
Passengers will be able to access ATM for emergency money transactions and free treatment facilities for two hours, from 10pm to midnight, while on a voyage. High level security with echo-sounder, radar, GPRS, fog lights and hydrophilic gear systems are installed in the ship, along with six lifeboats.
The passengers are insured with special coverage and they will also be able to enjoy free Wifi service all over.
The design of the vessel has been approved by the Department of Shipping and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Double bottom vessels have two watertight hull layers.
Passengers will be able to purchase tickets online on mvmanami.com, from the company's office or over hotline 01711-00-6082.
The ship is scheduled to depart from Dhaka on even days of a month and from Barisal on odd days at 9:55pm.