Bangladesh Navy Acquires Ex-Royal Navy Vessel HMS Enterprise

Why It Matters

Acquiring the vessel expands Bangladesh’s maritime surveillance and scientific research, while reinforcing UK‑Bangladesh strategic partnership in a geopolitically sensitive region.

Key Takeaways

• Bangladesh Navy acquires former HMS Enterprise survey vessel
• Transfer strengthens UK‑Bangladesh maritime cooperation
• Vessel enhances hydrographic and oceanographic research capacity
• 90.6‑metre ship offers 9,300‑nm range for missions
• Supports regional security and university scientific programs

Pulse Analysis

The handover of HMS Enterprise marks a rare instance of a fully operational, oceanographic survey ship changing hands between allied navies. Originally commissioned in 2003, the Echo‑class vessel combined advanced multibeam sonar arrays with thermographic imaging, enabling precise seabed mapping and environmental monitoring. Its decommissioning by the Royal Navy freed a platform that still meets modern standards, making it an attractive asset for emerging maritime powers seeking to upgrade their survey fleets without the lead time of new construction.

For Bangladesh, the acquisition directly addresses a capability gap in deep‑water hydrography and oceanography, essential for safe navigation, resource exploration, and disaster response in the Bay of Bengal. The ship’s 9,300‑nautical‑mile endurance and 15‑knot speed allow extended deployments along the extensive coastline and exclusive economic zone. By integrating the vessel into its navy, Bangladesh can conduct detailed seabed surveys, support anti‑smuggling patrols, and provide data to civilian agencies, thereby improving maritime domain awareness and contributing to regional stability.

Beyond operational benefits, the deal deepens defence cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, showcasing a model of technology transfer and capacity building. It opens avenues for joint training, maintenance support, and collaborative research projects with Bangladeshi universities. Such partnerships not only strengthen bilateral ties but also promote a shared commitment to secure, science‑driven maritime governance in a strategically vital part of the Indo‑Pacific.

Bangladesh Navy acquires ex-Royal Navy vessel HMS Enterprise

Credit: Crown copyright.

The UK and Bangladesh have finalised a government‑to‑government agreement for the transfer of the former HMS Enterprise, an Echo‑class hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessel, to the Bangladesh Navy.

The signing took place at Bangladesh Navy’s headquarters after extensive technical discussions involving the Bangladesh Navy, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the Royal Navy.

Officials from both countries attended the ceremony, including the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, Defence Attaché at the British High Commission Dhaka, commander Lee Norton.

Representing Bangladesh were chief of Naval Staff Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan, and assistant chief of naval staff (logistics) Rear Admiral Jahangir Adil Samdany.

Sarah Cooke said: “The sale of this survey vessel reflects the deep trust and strong cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. HMS Enterprise served the Royal Navy with distinction, and we are proud to see her begin a new chapter supporting Bangladesh’s maritime capability and our shared commitment to a secure and prosperous Bay of Bengal.”

The vessel will support Bangladesh’s maritime security operations and regional stability efforts. It is expected to enhance hydrographic, oceanographic, and scientific research capabilities, as well as provide research opportunities for universities in Bangladesh.

HMS Enterprise entered service with the Royal Navy in October 2003 and was decommissioned on 30 March 2023 at a ceremony held at Portsmouth Naval Base.

The ship is one of two Echo‑class vessels designed by STX Marine for military oceanographic surveys and data gathering. Echo‑class ships are fitted with multibeam sonar systems, thermographic imaging technology that uses an infrared focal plane array for fault detection in ship systems, and a Survey Motor Boat (SMB) named Pathfinder.

The survey vessel is 90.6 metres long with a beam of 16.8 m and a displacement of 3,740 tonnes. It is capable of reaching speeds up to 15 knots and has a maximum range of 9,300 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots.