The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel Banglar Joyjatra, which had been stranded in the Middle East amid Iran war, has begun its journey toward the Strait of Hormuz, bringing relief to its crew after weeks of anxiety and uncertainty.
The vessel departed at 8:30am and is expected to cross the Strait of Hormuz by Thursday midnight, Captain of Banglar Joyjatra, Shafiqul Islam Khan, told Times of Bangladesh around 3pm on Wednesday.
It will berth at Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates before heading to its final destination, Cape Town Port in South Africa. Banglar Joyjatra loaded around 37,000 tonnes of phosphate fertilizer from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al Khair port.
The state-owned vessel carries 31 Bangladeshi sailors. Crew members said they have regained a sense of relief after finally resuming their voyage following nearly a month of anxiety due to the conflict. They said their worries will completely disappear once they are able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz.
At a press conference held at the BSC’s office in Chattogram on Wednesday, Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek disclosed the ship’s position and the present situation that left it stranded.
He said BSC is hopeful that the vessel would receive clearance to cross the Strait of Hormuz through diplomatic efforts.
“The ship is now on its way and will wait about 60 kilometres before the Strait of Hormuz. It will proceed once all necessary clearances are obtained,” he added.
Earlier, the vessel had transported steel coils from a port in Qatar to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE, arriving on 27 February. The following day, escalating hostilities began after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes that rapidly spread across the region.
Malek said a missile struck a nearby oil depot while the ship was unloading cargo at Jebel Ali, heightening security concerns. After completing discharge, the vessel initially anchored about 60 miles off the Strait of Hormuz but was later moved to Sharjah due to continued missile threats.
Banglar Joyjatra is among six vessels approved by Iran for Bangladesh, although the formal clearance letter has yet to be received. The ship has now been loaded with fertilizer, which can be safely stored onboard for 30 to 40 days—this is an operational advantage, he added.
Despite remaining idle for nearly a month after unloading cargo on 11 March, the vessel will still earn a daily charter hire of $20,000, ensuring no financial loss for BSC.
Malek also noted that the ship was well-prepared during the crisis, with six months’ worth of food supplies, along with sufficient water and fuel.
Crew members maintained regular contact with their families, while BSC and the Ministry of Shipping stayed in constant communication to support morale. “We remained proactive to ensure the sailors stayed confident and safe throughout the situation,” he added.
