Bangladesh Navy to receive hydrographic vessel from the UK

The Echo-class hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship Enterprise , seen here while it was in service with the Royal Navy. The vessel will be transferred to the Bangladesh Navy under a government-to-government sale. (Royal Navy)

The UK will transfer a former Royal Navy survey vessel to Bangladesh, the British High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement that was issued on 8 February.

Formerly in service as HMS Enterprise, the Echo-class hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessel will join the Bangladesh Navy following a government-to-government sales agreement signed on the same day of the statement.

“The vessel, known for its distinguished service in survey operations, humanitarian support, and disaster‑response missions, will now help strengthen Bangladesh's maritime security and regional stability efforts,” the statement said.

“It will also provide hydrographic, oceanographic, and scientific research capability and offer significant research opportunities for Bangladeshi universities,” the statement added.

Enterprise entered service with the Royal Navy in 2003. It was built by Appledore Shipbuilders in Devon and is the second of two Echo-class survey vessels that were in service with the Royal Navy.

With a full load displacement of 3,600 tonnes, an overall length of 90 m and a top speed of 15 kt, the ship has a standard range of 9,000 n miles at 12 kt.

It carries a crew complement of 72 and was designed to operate a watch rotation manning scheme providing at-sea availability of 320 days per year.

Beyond specialist surveying tasks, the vessel's operational roles have included rapid environmental assessment, military data gathering and mine-countermeasures tasking support, as well as humanitarian support and disaster-response missions.

For more, please see:UK Royal Navy prepares to decommission HMS Enterprise .