State-owned Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) will put its coastal passenger vessel MV Malancha into service on the Cox’s Bazar–Saint Martin’s Island route from Thursday, 5 November, giving tourists another way to reach the country’s only coral island this season.
The ship will run a round trip between Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin’s Island and can carry around 600 passengers.
At a glance
- Vessel: MV Malancha, a coastal passenger ship owned by BIWTC
- Route: Cox’s Bazar – Saint Martin’s Island – Cox’s Bazar
- Service starts: 5 November 2026
- Capacity: about 600 passengers
Safety on board
The vessel carries life rafts, lifebuoys, firefighting equipment and navigation instruments. Safety has been a key concern this season: the authorities have said tourist vessels on the route will be allowed to operate only after their fitness and safety have been checked.
Why it matters
Saint Martin’s reopened to tourists on 1 November, but most tourist ships have been waiting for the final clearances needed to sail. A large government-owned vessel joining the route adds capacity at the start of the season, when demand is high and daily visitor numbers are capped at 3,500.
For BIWTC, the service is part of a wider push to strengthen its coastal passenger operations and improve sea links to the island. The trip across the Bay of Bengal also gives travellers a chance to enjoy some of the most scenic coastal waters in Bangladesh.
Passengers are advised to check the latest schedule, ticketing and registration rules with BIWTC and the Cox’s Bazar district administration before travelling.
Reported by the Maritime News desk.
Photo: MV Malancha / Maritime News
