The United Kingdom has transferred the former Royal Navy survey vessel HMS Enterprise to the Bangladesh Navy, strengthening Dhaka’s maritime surveillance and hydrographic capacity. Commissioned in 2002 and decommissioned in 2023, the Echo-class ship was designed for detailed seabed mapping and multi-sensor operations supporting submarine and mine countermeasure missions. Measuring 91 meters in length with accommodation for about 70 personnel, the vessel is powered by diesel generators and thrusters enabling a 15-knot speed and a range exceeding 9,000 nautical miles. In addition to advanced sensing equipment, it carries light defensive armament. London described the handover as evidence of expanding defense cooperation and its broader Indo-Pacific engagement strategy.
