Bangladesh is set to launch its first-ever nationwide vessel census on Thursday to collect updated information on all motorised vessels operating in the country’s waters and create a comprehensive database for the maritime transport sector.

The “Vessel Census 2026” will be conducted from August 20 to 29 under the “Vessel Database Development and Capacity Enhancement in Vessel Management” project being implemented by the Department of Shipping under the Ministry of Shipping.

The initiative aims to make the country’s maritime transport sector safer, more organised, modern and data-driven.

During the 10-day census, information on the number, types, ownership and registration status of vessels, along with other relevant data, will be collected.

The Department of Shipping and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will jointly conduct the census to gather updated information on all motorised vessels operating in the country’s sea, coastal and inland waterways.

The database to be prepared from the collected information is expected to play an important role in planning, managing and formulating policies for the maritime transport sector, officials said.

The census will provide a reliable, updated and comprehensive statistical picture of the country’s vessel sector, helping improve vessel registration and management, strengthen maritime safety, develop waterway management and facilitate future planning.

Vessel owners, operators, workers and other stakeholders have been urged to cooperate fully with the census teams appointed by the BBS.

They have also been requested to provide accurate and necessary information to the enumerators to ensure the successful completion of the census.

Officials described the first nationwide vessel census as a timely and important initiative that would help provide a clearer picture of the country’s maritime transport sector and make future development plans more effective and evidence-based.