13 October
DALA Shipyard in Yangon Region, Dala Township, Aungmingala Ward had been constructing and maintaining marine vessels for more than 150 years to transport people and goods over water.
During fiscal year 2019-2020 the shipyard will construct one tugboat and two container barges for Inland Water Transport.
Oldest shipyard
Of the six shipyards owned and operated by Inland Water Transport, Dala Shipyard was the oldest. It was established just after the second Anglo-Myanmar war and was more than 150 years old now. It was established in 1865 by Irrawaddy Flotilla Co., Ltd. and was gradually expanded.
Name change and transfer of ownership
After Myanmar gain independent, Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was nationalized in 1 June 1948 and the shipyard became a government owned shipyard. The company became Inland Water Transport Board. In 1 March 1971, it became Inland Water Transport Corporation and by 1 April 1989, the name changes to Inland Water Transport while the shipyard continued to conduct ship repair and construction works.
Question on future plan raised in Hluttaw
During the last week of August, Amyotha Hluttaw rep-resentative U Kyaw Htwe, Pyithu Hluttaw representative Dr Sein Mya Aye, Yangon Region constituency 1 Hluttaw representative U Tun Yin, Yangon Region constituency 2 Hluttaw representative U Htwe Tin and officials visited Dala Shipyard. Afterward questions were raised in the Hluttaw on plan to upgrade the long serving ship-yard or to open a school where marine technology and related subjects can be taught.
Transporting to people and goods
Marine transport was the cheapest mode of transport and Inland Water Transport had been playing an important, cheap and low cost role in transporting of people and goods. With a wide delta area, long coast line, major rivers flowing through the country and despite the development of other land and air transport modes, marine transport will still play an important and cheap role in Myanmar for transporting people and goods. Dala Shipyard will also continue to play an important role in this.
By Naing Lin Kyaw (Dala) (Translated by Handytips)
