A Ceremony to mark the Sesquicentenary Celebration of the historic Dala Dockyard took place in Dala Township, Yangon Region, on 1 January, with an address by Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Also present at the ceremony were SAC Joint-Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC members, union ministers and union level dignitaries, the Yangon Region chief minister, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Yangon Command commander, officials of Ministry of Transport and Communications, invited guests, employees of the dockyard and officials.
In honour of the sesquicentenary celebration of the dockyard, the Senior General pressed the button to unveil the plaque of the completion of the heavy renovation of the historic diesel workshop built in 1875 at the shipyard as its original design and the historic signboard. Following this, the Senior General delivered honourable speech as follows:
- Dala Dockyard opened a new chapter of Myanmar’s maritime history. Hence, it can be termed as a historic shipyard with a unique tradition.
- The State-owned Inland Water Transport originated from the colonial-era Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. It is noted that the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company firstly placed the Dala Dockyard under its management on 1st January 1875.
- Since Independence, the Dala Dockyard, which originated from the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, has supported the construction and maintenance of vessels essential for the transportation sector in various national projects under successive governments.
- 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.
- Inland water transport must be upgraded and 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 required in the maritime sector, ranging from riverine transport to coastal shipping. Efforts should focus on integration 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.
- Currently, as the land transport increasingly adopts energy solutions like electricity and batteries, it is recommended to conduct research to use battery power for running vessels.
- Efforts must be made not only in riverine transport but also in coastal shipping, coastal cargo transport aiming to ensure the safe and secure operation of inland water transport. By assessing the State’s funding support, market availability, and the potential for economic profitability, efforts should be made to enhance the transport of goods along the coastal waterways by leveraging the capabilities of the Dala Dockyard.
Next, SAC Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo reported on the background of the shipyard, work process, and implementation of shipyard functions in accord with the guidance of the Head of State and future plans. Then, the Senior General accepted scale model of vessel marking the sesquicentenary celebration of the dockyard and commemorative gift presented by the Union Minister.
Later, the Senior General presented cash awards to employees of the shipyard and cordially greeted. The Senior General then inspected the heavy renovation of vessels, testing the scale models of vessels to build the coastal cargo vessels at the worksite of the shipyard and left necessary guidance.
Dala Dockyard is the oldest and biggest shipyard under the Inland Water Transport (IWT). It renovated IWT vessels in accordance with projects, created vessel designs and built ships due to the demands for local transportation in successive eras while manufacturing machinery and vessel parts, repairing vessels of other departments and enterprises successfully. Being an historic and ancient dockyard, its inefficient old factories and workshops, and dock lanes were renovated, new machinery installed and machinery and building improved at the shipyard under the guidance of the Head of State. Hence, Dala Dockyard has plans to implement its new future duties assigned by the IWT, based on developed human resources, by constantly monitoring the changing trading system, reports say.
Source: GNLM (2-1-2025)
- 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.
- Inland water transport must be upgraded and strengthened through the maintenance, repair and construction of more efficient and economically viable cargo vessels, trailers, tugboats, and container ships essential for cargo transport.
- To promote economic growth, innovative strategies are required in the maritime sector, ranging from riverine transport to coastal shipping. Efforts should focus on integration 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.