Taratari is a shipyard founded in 2004 in Bangladesh by the French sailor Yves Marre.[1] Supported by the French NGO Watever,[2] it aims to develop a modern, safe, and responsible nautical production industry in the country.[2]

Taratari shipyard
Company typePrivate
IndustryShipbuilding
Founded1996; 28 years ago (1996)
Headquarters,
Bangladesh
Key people
Yves Marre Managing Director
ProductsFloating Hospital, floating ambulance, fishing boats, transport boats
OwnerYves Marre

History

edit
 
Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital

In 1994, Yves Marre sailed his barge from France to Bangladesh. There, he and his wife Runa Khan founded an NGO called Friendship to provide health care in the area.[3] They converted the barge into a hospital to provide healthcare to isolated people in the north of Bangladesh.[4][5]

2004 to 2012

edit
 
Emirates Friendship Hospital, built by Taratari

In 2004, Marre founded the Taratari shipyard for Friendship's needs, aiming to build a second floating hospital and two ambulance catamarans with fiberglass. The catamaran "Emirates Friendship Hospital" was inaugurated in 2008.[6]

In 2004 Marre also met Marc Van Peteghem, co-director of the naval architecture agency VPLP. This gave rise to numerous collaborations, including the NGO Watever.[7] Van Peteghem designed a floating ambulance for Taratari, which was produced in two units to support the "Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital" and the "Emirates Friendship Hospital".[8] Van Peteghem also helped Marre design the first fiberglass prototype of a "Masdoris", a traditionally-shaped fishing boat from Kuakata, Bangladesh. These new boats were safer and more sustainable than wooden ones, with a lifetime of more than 20 years.[2]

 
Mandoris from Taratari
 
Masdoris from Taratari for the FAO

In 2010, Taratari convinced the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the FAO, of the need to improve and renovate traditional Bengali boats. The organization put the shipyard in charge of the production of the first 25 of the country's fishing boats made of fiberglass.[9] With the delivery of 35 more units to the FAO in 2012,[10] Taratari also trained fishermen in the use of the new boats.

In 2011, UNICEF ordered 7 transport boats of the "Mandoris" type for carrying children from the islands of Kaptai Lake to school.[2] These boats have transported over 7,000 children per year.

2012 to 2013

edit

In 2012, Taratari shipyard moved to Chittagong to increase its production capacity and to be closer to the sailors in the Bay of Bengal.[7] The shipyard continued working with the FAO, developed new vessels for the A.K. Khan company, and started new projects. The company built Bangladesh's first jute fiber boat.[11][12]

Future

edit

In 2014, a partnership with a local industrial group is expected. This collaboration triple the shipyard's total area, and enable it to continue research and development of new boats.[13]

Activities

edit

Taratari is the only shipyard in Bangladesh to both design and produce its vessels, to train its teams in shipbuilding by international standards, and to regulate the use of composite materials, steel, and wood.

Ship design

edit

Taratari develops new watercraft based on local needs, taking into account the geographical characteristics of the country and integrating local naval architecture in ship design.[14]

The shipyard also supports local, innovative projects in the water industry. This has included hosting the "Gold Of Bengal" team as they built prototype boats made of jute fiber.[15]

Ship production

edit

Taratari mainly produces and services boats made of composite materials. The first released boat made of steel was the hospital catamaran Emirates. The shipyard is also involved in reconstructing older, wooden ships to preserve Bangladesh's naval heritage, such as the Malar, Panchi, Patham, great Shampan, Baich, and small Shampan boats.

 
The "B613"

It also builds prototypes of ships and designs and manufactures molds for industrial production.[16]

Training

edit
 
Team Taratari with trainees during FAO session

Taratari trains technicians in Bangladesh at the Regional Training Center. They provide them training in auto-mechanic, electrical, welding, and tailoring.[17]

In 2013, Taratari, in association with F.A.O and Watever, organized the training of 15 students in composite ship repair.

Boats

edit

Transport

edit
  • Mandoris[18]
  • Shampans: 5m, 7m and 11m

Fishing

edit
  • Masdoris[19]
  • Karnaphuli Boat

Medical

edit

Polyvalent

edit
  • Karnaphuli-Multi[22]

Partners

edit
  • NGO Watever:[2] Since 2011, the association has sent 6 volunteers to the shipyard. It provides technical expertise in the construction of boats and supports the shipyard in communication and fundraising.
  • VPLP: The shipyard and VPLP collaborate in the development of Floating Solutions.
  • "L'aventure Tara Tari": In 2009, Corentin de Chatelperron arrived at Chittagong to work on the shipyard's development. In 2010, Taratari helped him in the construction of this boat made of 40% jute fiber.
  • Gold Of Bengal: In 2013, the shipyard welcomed back Corentin de Chatelperron and his Gold of Bengal team as they built their prototype ship made of 100% jute fiber.[23]

References

edit
  1. ^ "PORTRAIT – Yves Marre, le goût des autres et de l'exploit" (in French). Lepetitjournal.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "TaraTari". Watever.
  3. ^ "Friendship - Our Story". Friendship-bd.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Our History | TaraTari Shipyard". Taratari.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  5. ^ Ricardou, FX (28 May 2015). "Sea story and adventure, Browser Solidaire Yves Marre". bateaux.com. Infodustrie.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  6. ^ "The Emirates Friendship Hospital Ship | Community Initiatives | Our Vision & Values". The Emirates Group. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Notre histoire". Watever. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Friendship - River Ambulance Services". Friendship-bd.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  9. ^ "FAO Contract : Delivery of the first batch! | TaraTari". Tibotaratari.wordpress.com. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  10. ^ "FAO contract : 35 Masdoris fishing boat – First batch ready! | TaraTari". Tibotaratari.wordpress.com. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  11. ^ "Living the Nauticales of La Ciotat - The Nauticales 2015 news and events!". voilesnews.fr. Voiles News. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Jute shows new prospect". The Daily Star. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Future Plan | TaraTari Shipyard". Taratari.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Research and Development". TaraTari Shipyard. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Gold of Bengal" (in French). Gold of Bengal. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  16. ^ "Mould Making | TaraTari Shipyard". Taratari.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  17. ^ d'Allant, Josephine (23 March 2015). "When School Is Not Enough: Four Alternative Education Programs That Meet Youths' Needs". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Mandoris for Unicef | TaraTari". Tibotaratari.wordpress.com. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Masdoris fishing boat prototype out of the water | TaraTari". Tibotaratari.wordpress.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Steel Constructions | TaraTari Shipyard". Taratari.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  21. ^ "Ambulance | TaraTari". Tibotaratari.wordpress.com. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Technical Expertise | TaraTari Shipyard". Taratari.org. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Tara Tari - Jute fiber for Bangladesh Sailboats". Tara-tari.blogspot.fr. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

22°23′36″N 91°52′53″E / 22.3933°N 91.8814°E / 22.3933; 91.8814