Third Inland Water Transport

closed

The project objectives are to improve inland water transport operations and the effectiveness of sector agencies. The project consists of: (a) an institution building component which will enhance the capacities of (i) the Department of Shipping to implement safety and pollution control regulations, including environmental monitoring of dredging, and to train inland vessel operations, (ii) the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to improve its planning function and operations, and (iii) Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation to restructure its fleet, organization, personnel, and finances; (b) a vessel safety improvement component which includes (i) implementation of minimum navigation standards for day and night navigation on Class I & II waterways, and (ii) upgrading of high frequency communications systems and establishment of 24-hour distress frequency monitoring at Chittagong, Dhaka and Mongla; (c) an inland ports component to provide 100 launch landing pontoons in rural areas; (d) a waterways development component which includes (i) dredging to improve waterway access to the northeast and to Baghabari Port in the northwest, (ii) hydrographic survey equipment, and (iii) support equipment to improve productivity of BIWTA's existing dredging fleet; and (e) a country boat component to provide extension services to the country boat sector.