1 January 2025
The 150th anniversary of Dala Shipyard, a historic facility in Dala Township, Yangon Region was held this morning, addressed by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC members, union ministers, union level officials, the Yangon Region chief minister and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Yangon Command commander, officials of Ministry of Transport and Communications, invited guests, and officials of the shipyard.
On arrival at the shipyard, the Senior General and party were welcomed by children of the families of the shipyard.
In honour of the anniversary, the upgraded No. 1 slipway that was built in 1908, and a new slipway cradle and a new 1,500-ton barge were formally launched by SAC member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo, Union Minister for Industry Dr Charlie Than, and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein.
In honour of the anniversary, the Senior General unveiled the stone plaque marking the completion of the historic diesel engine repair workshop, renovated and preserved in its original design, and signboard of the historic building, and sprinkled scented water on the plaque.
At the anniversary ceremony held at the ancient diesel engine repair workshop, the Senior General and attendees watched a video clip on Inland Water Transport and the Dala Shipyard.
In his address to honour the anniversary, the Senior General said Dala Shipyard opened a new chapter of Myanmar’s maritime history. Hence, it can be termed as a historic shipyard with a unique tradition. According to historical accounts, Dala shipyard can be recorded as the “beginning of advanced shipyards.” In this regard, the 150th anniversary of shipyard was held.
The state-owned Inland Water Transport originated from the colonial-era Irrawaddy Flotilla Company.
It is noted that the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company first placed the Dala Shipyard under its management on January 1, 1875. Since the nationalization of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company on June 1, 1948, the Dala Shipyard has become a national facility, remaining an integral part of the history of Inland Water Transport.
The Dala Shipyard, which originated from the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, has successfully endured through the Konboung Dynasty, the British colonial period, and the Japanese occupation of Myanmar. Since independence, the shipyard has supported the construction and maintenance of vessels essential for the transportation sector in various national projects under successive governments.
The shipyard is a historic site, and to this day, its ancient buildings, workshops, warehouses, and docks remain visible within the premises. The ancient diesel engine workshop building, constructed before 1880, still stands, along with numerous other workshops and buildings dating back to the period before 1920. I would also like to recognize and appreciate the efforts made in sustainably preserving and utilizing historic buildings like this one to the present day.
The transportation sector plays a crucial role in the country’s economic and social development.
Among these sectors, water transport is essential for ensuring the efficient and timely movement of goods, as well as public transportation.
It is expected that the country’s transportation network, including airports, runways, roads, railways, and bridges over rivers and streams, will reduce the reliance on water vessels for passenger transportation in the future. However, in the field of cargo transportation, shipping by water remains more cost-effective, as it enables the transport of large quantities of goods in a single shipment. Internationally, water transportation is increasingly being prioritized.
Efforts must be made to effectively utilize the Ayeyawady and Chindwin rivers, which facilitate transportation from northern Myanmar to the southern Ayeyawady River Basin throughout the year, regardless of the season. We must promote trade along the maritime route.
Therefore, the water transportation sector must be strengthened through the maintenance, repair, and construction of more efficient and economically viable cargo vessels, trailers, tugboats, and container ships essential for cargo transport.
The economic sector plays a key role in the development of a country.
To promote economic growth, innovative strategies are needed in the maritime sector, ranging from inland waterway transport to coastal shipping. Efforts should focus on integrating systems such as inland freight transport, coastal passenger and cargo shipping, containerized freight shipping, and combining inland and coastal travel routes to enhance maritime logistics efficiency. Long-term planning is essential, including the construction of necessary vessels at shipyards like the Dala Shipyard.
Additionally, state-owned shipyards must focus on increasing their capacity and efficiency to meet future demands.
Engine technology for ships has evolved over time, from coal-fired boilers to diesel engines.
Similarly, as land trans-port increasingly adopts energy solutions like electricity and batteries, it is recommended to conduct research and development for incorporating battery-powered energy systems in ships.
To meet international standards, physical facilities in shipyards must be upgraded and maintained.
This includes the slipways and launching ramps for ship construction, machinery and equipment, construction workshops, cranes and vehicles, shipyard roads, loading systems, and resources for ship design.
These improvements aim to address current needs while aligning with global benchmarks.
For sustainable development of the maritime sector and the preservation of historic shipyards, collaboration between various maritime organizations and government departments is crucial.
State-owned shipyards should exchange and disseminate ship construction technologies while adhering to maritime regulations to drive growth in the sector. Efforts should include safe and efficient management of inland waterway transport, coastal shipping for goods and passengers, and integrated travel routes connecting rivers and coastal areas. To achieve this, assessments must consider state funding, market conditions, and economic profitability.
Utilizing the capacity of Dala Shipyard is essential for enhancing coastal cargo shipping. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Dala Shipyard, it was emphasized that maintaining and preserving historic industrial facilities like Dala Shipyard is vital for their long-term sustainability.
Council member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo highlighted the historical significance of Dala Shipyard, its contributions over the years, and its alignment with the directives of national leaders. He also elaborated on the current operations and future plans for the shipyard, ensuring its continued relevance and functionality in the maritime sector.
Then, member of the SAC deputy prime minister and union minister for Transports and Communications presented a miniature ship commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Dala Dockyard and the Senior General presented cash rewards for staff of the dockyard.
Afterward, the Senior General posed for documentary photographs together with attendees and cordially greeted staff of the dockyard before earnestly viewing historical records and documentary photographs and miniature ships of the Inland Water Transports and Dala dockyard displayed in the historic ancient diesel workshop.
Then, the Senior General inspects the repairs of major maintenance of heavy ships and tests of building small scaled coastal cargo ships and give necessary instructions on reports of the officials Afterward, the Senior General signed the guest book of the historic dockyard.
Dala dockyard is the most ancient and biggest one owned by the Inland Water Transports and has carried out maintenance in accordance with projects and shipbuilding accord with the demands for local transportations, production of spare parts required for maintenance of ships and shipbuilding, innovation and tests and offering shipbuilding and maintenance tasks for vessels of other departments successfully.
True to be an historic and ancient dockyard, its inefficient old factories and workshops, ship launching lines and machinery are being upgraded by building new ship launching lines, installing new machinery, carrying out maintenance tasks in old buildings in accordance with the head of state without losing sight of the developing commercial system and will implement future goals of the Inland Water Transports based on its human resources.
