Taratari shipyard

Taratari is a Bangladeshi shipyard founded in 2004 by French sailor Yves Marre. Its origins are closely connected with humanitarian work in Bangladesh. In 1994, Marre sailed a barge from France to Bangladesh and, together with his wife Runa Khan, established the NGO Friendship to provide healthcare to isolated communities. The barge was converted into a floating hospital, creating a practical need for locally designed and maintained watercraft. Taratari was subsequently created to support Friendship's operations, initially with the goal of constructing another floating hospital and fiberglass ambulance catamarans. The shipyard developed through a combination of humanitarian procurement, local boatbuilding knowledge, naval-architecture expertise, and international cooperation. Marre's meeting with Marc Van Peteghem, co-director of the naval architecture practice VPLP, led to collaborations on floating medical and transport solutions. Taratari produced fiberglass ambulance catamarans for Friendship's floating hospitals and worked on designs adapted to Bangladesh's rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and island communities. The Emirates Friendship Hospital, a steel hospital catamaran, was inaugurated in 2008 and became one of the yard's most visible projects. Taratari also sought to modernize traditional Bengali boatbuilding without discarding local forms. Its work included the development of fiberglass Masdoris, based on traditional fishing boats from Kuakata. The newer boats were intended to be safer and more durable than comparable wooden craft, with an expected service life of more than 20 years. The yard's broader portfolio included transport boats, fishing vessels, medical craft, multipurpose boats, prototypes, molds, and the repair or reconstruction of historic wooden vessels. In 2010, Taratari secured work associated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to improve Bangladesh's traditional fishing boats. It produced an initial group of 25 fiberglass fishing boats and delivered a further 35 units in 2012. The project also involved training fishermen to use the new boats. In 2011, UNICEF ordered seven Mandoris transport boats for school transportation on Kaptai Lake; these vessels were reported to carry more than 7,000 children annually. The shipyard moved to Chittagong in 2012 to expand production and locate itself closer to the Bay of Bengal's maritime communities. Around this period it continued work with the FAO, developed vessels for A.K. Khan, and participated in experimental projects using plant-based materials. It built Bangladesh's first jute-fiber boat and hosted the Gold of Bengal project, including the construction of a prototype made entirely from jute fiber. Taratari also supported an earlier boat made with approximately 40 percent jute fiber. Taratari's activities extended beyond fabrication. It designed vessels around local geography and use cases, produced molds for industrial manufacturing, serviced composite boats, and trained Bangladeshi technicians. Its Regional Training Center offered instruction in areas including automobile repair, electrical work, welding, and tailoring. In 2013, the shipyard worked with the FAO and Watever to train 15 students in composite-boat repair. The organization was supported by Watever, a French NGO that supplied volunteers, technical expertise, communications assistance, and fundraising support. The shipyard also collaborated with VPLP on floating solutions and with social, humanitarian, and experimental boatbuilding initiatives. Public reference material describes a planned partnership with a local industrial group in 2014 that was expected to expand the yard's area and support research and development; the subsequent outcome is not established here. Current ownership, operating status, financial performance, and present-day production are not confirmed by the supplied sources.

Taratari emerged from a humanitarian response to Bangladesh's difficult waterways. In 1994, French sailor Yves Marre brought a barge from France to Bangladesh. With Runa Khan, he helped establish Friendship, an NGO that delivered healthcare to isolated communities. The barge was converted into a floating hospital, demonstrating both the value of waterborne services and the limitations of relying on imported or unsuitable vessels. Marre founded Taratari in 2004 to support Friendship's future fleet. The original objectives included constructing a second floating hospital and two fiberglass ambulance catamarans. The yard's development was strengthened by Marre's relationship with Marc Van Peteghem of VPLP, a naval-architecture practice. VPLP contributed design expertise, including work on a floating ambulance and on a fiberglass version of the Masdoris, a traditional Kuakata fishing-boat form. The yard combined contemporary materials with local boatbuilding traditions. Composite boats were promoted as safer and more durable alternatives to many wooden craft, while Taratari also undertook reconstruction and preservation work on traditional vessels such as Malar, Panchi, Patham, great Shampan, Baich, and small Shampan boats. Its work covered design, fabrication, maintenance, mold-making, and prototype development rather than only series production. The Emirates Friendship Hospital was inaugurated in 2008. The steel catamaran served as a prominent example of Taratari's ability to produce specialized medical infrastructure. The yard also made two fiberglass ambulance catamarans associated with Friendship's floating hospitals, including the Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital and the Emirates Friendship Hospital. In 2010, Taratari's work expanded into national fishing-boat modernization. The shipyard persuaded the FAO that traditional Bengali boats required improvement and renovation, then produced the first 25 fiberglass fishing boats under the resulting program. A further 35 units were delivered in 2012, accompanied by training for fishermen in their use. In 2011, UNICEF commissioned seven Mandoris transport boats for Kaptai Lake. These boats were intended to improve children's access to school from island communities and were reported to transport more than 7,000 children each year. Taratari relocated to Chittagong in 2012. The move was intended to increase capacity and place the yard nearer to the sailors and coastal communities of the Bay of Bengal. The organization continued its FAO relationship, developed vessels for A.K. Khan, and pursued experimental construction. It built Bangladesh's first jute-fiber boat and later welcomed Corentin de Chatelperron's Gold of Bengal team, which developed a prototype using 100 percent jute fiber. These projects positioned the yard as a test site for alternative materials as well as a producer of working boats. Training was another central activity. Taratari operated a Regional Training Center for Bangladeshi technicians, with instruction that included vehicle repair, electrical work, welding, and tailoring. In 2013, the shipyard, Watever, and the FAO organized composite-boat repair training for 15 students. Watever supported the operation through volunteers, technical assistance, communications, and fundraising, while VPLP contributed naval-architecture collaboration. Reference material describes a local industrial partnership expected in 2014, which would have tripled the shipyard's total area and enabled additional research and development. The supplied sources do not establish whether that partnership was completed. They also do not confirm Taratari's current ownership, management, financial condition, or operating status, so those matters remain unresolved.

1. 2013Composite-boat repair training expands

   Taratari, Watever, and the FAO organized training for 15 students in composite ship repair.

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2. 2012Production moves to Chittagong

   Taratari relocated to Chittagong to expand production and improve access to the Bay of Bengal.

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3. 2011UNICEF commissions Mandoris boats

   Seven Mandoris transport boats were ordered for school transportation on Kaptai Lake.

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4. 2010FAO fishing-boat program begins

   Taratari began producing fiberglass fishing boats for an FAO-supported modernization program.

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5. 2008Emirates Friendship Hospital enters service

   The steel hospital catamaran was inaugurated as a major floating-healthcare project.

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6. 2004Taratari is founded

   Yves Marre established the shipyard to build vessels for Friendship and to develop local nautical production.

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7. 1994Yves Marre arrives in Bangladesh

   Marre sailed a barge from France to Bangladesh and began the humanitarian work that later led to Friendship's floating healthcare services.

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A socially oriented Bangladeshi shipyard focused on locally adapted naval architecture, composite construction, humanitarian vessels, safer fishing boats, technical training, and experimentation with sustainable materials.

• Emirates Friendship HospitalMedical vessel2008

  A steel hospital catamaran inaugurated in 2008 and associated with Friendship's effort to deliver healthcare by water. It represented Taratari's capacity to build specialized floating infrastructure rather than conventional commercial boats alone.

• Ambulance catamaransMedical vessel

  Fiberglass ambulance catamarans designed to support the Lifebuoy Friendship Hospital and Emirates Friendship Hospital. Two units were produced to move patients and medical personnel through waterways that are difficult to reach by road.

• MandorisTransport boat2011

  A transport-boat type ordered by UNICEF for Kaptai Lake. Seven boats were intended to carry children from island communities to school and were reported to serve more than 7,000 children per year.

• MasdorisFishing boat

  A fiberglass adaptation of a traditional Kuakata fishing boat form. The design was developed with naval-architecture input and sought to combine familiar local characteristics with improved safety, durability, and resistance to the limitations of wooden construction.

• Karnaphuli BoatFishing boat

  A fishing-boat design included in Taratari's portfolio of locally adapted craft. The supplied reference identifies the model but does not provide detailed specifications, production volume, or current availability.

• Karnaphuli-MultiMultipurpose vessel

  A polyvalent vessel intended for more than one operational use. Available reference material lists the model among Taratari's boats but does not establish detailed dimensions, propulsion, or production status.

• ShampansTraditional boat

  Traditional boat forms represented in several sizes, including approximately 5-meter, 7-meter, and 11-meter versions. Taratari's work with Shampans included preservation-oriented reconstruction as well as continued development of local maritime craft.

• Jute-fiber prototype boatsExperimental vessel2013

  Experimental boats developed through Taratari's collaboration with the Gold of Bengal project. The work included an earlier boat using roughly 40 percent jute fiber and a later prototype made with 100 percent jute fiber, demonstrating interest in renewable composite materials.

• 2013Gold of Bengal

  Bangladesh · International experimental boatbuilding community

  Taratari hosted Corentin de Chatelperron and the Gold of Bengal team while they developed a boat using jute fiber as a principal construction material.

  Outcome. The project produced a prototype made from 100 percent jute fiber.

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• 2011Kaptai Lake school transport

  Bangladesh

  Taratari supplied UNICEF-ordered Mandoris boats to connect children living on Kaptai Lake islands with schools.

  Outcome. Seven boats were ordered, with reported annual transport of more than 7,000 children.

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• 2010FAO fishing-boat modernization program

  Bangladesh

  Taratari worked with the FAO to replace or improve traditional fishing craft through fiberglass construction. The program included production and practical instruction for fishermen.

  Outcome. Twenty-five initial boats were produced, followed by 35 additional boats delivered in 2012.

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• 2013Develop a fully jute-fiber boat prototypeProduct launch

  Taratari and its collaborators were investigating renewable materials that could reduce dependence on conventional boatbuilding inputs.

  What changed. The shipyard hosted the Gold of Bengal team and supported construction of a prototype using 100 percent jute fiber.

  Aftermath. The project demonstrated Taratari's role as an experimental platform for sustainable maritime materials; commercial scale-up is not documented.

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• 2012Relocate production to ChittagongStrategy

  The shipyard sought greater production capacity and closer access to sailors and maritime communities in the Bay of Bengal.

  What changed. Taratari moved its shipyard to Chittagong.

  Aftermath. The move supported continued FAO work, new vessel projects, and additional experimental boatbuilding, although later operating results are not confirmed.

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• 2004Create a shipyard serving humanitarian and local maritime needsStrategy

  Friendship's floating healthcare operations required suitable vessels, while Bangladesh lacked a modern shipyard combining local adaptation with contemporary construction methods.

  What changed. Yves Marre founded Taratari and focused its early work on floating hospitals, ambulance catamarans, and locally relevant boat designs.

  Aftermath. The yard expanded from humanitarian craft into fishing, transport, training, prototype, and heritage-boat projects.

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• 2013Gold of Bengal develops a jute-fiber boat prototype

  Taratari hosted the Gold of Bengal team as it constructed a prototype boat made from jute fiber, following an earlier project using a partial jute-fiber composite.

  Product launch
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• 2012Taratari relocates to Chittagong

  The shipyard moved to Chittagong to increase production capacity and improve access to maritime communities around the Bay of Bengal.

  Other
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• 2011UNICEF orders Mandoris school-transport boats

  UNICEF ordered seven Mandoris boats to transport children from islands on Kaptai Lake to school.

  Product launch
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• 2010FAO commissions fiberglass fishing boats

  Taratari took responsibility for producing an initial group of fiberglass fishing boats intended to improve traditional Bengali fishing craft.

  Product launch
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• 2008Emirates Friendship Hospital is inaugurated

  The steel hospital catamaran Emirates Friendship Hospital entered service as a major floating-medical project associated with Taratari and Friendship.

  Product launch
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• 2004Taratari establishes a shipyard in Bangladesh

  Yves Marre founded Taratari to support the development of vessels for Friendship's floating healthcare work and to build a modern Bangladeshi boatbuilding capability.

  Other
  Source

1. Taratari
2. Taratari official website