Paddle Steamer Resources by Tramscape
The Internet's largest database of Paddle Steamers past and present 

Paddlers still exist in Bangladesh operated by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation on the famous "Rocket" service on the Buriganga River from Dhaka (Sadarghat Ferry terminal) to Khulna with ten intermediate stops, a distance of 354 kilometres. The journey time is approximately 28 hours but can vary enormously depending on the navigability of the river system at anygiven time. Vessels offer accommodation in three classes and are patronised by regular paying ferry passengers and tourists sailing as part of organised holiday tours. The journey passes through the Sundarbans, the vast mangrove Forest of the Ganges delta which is teeming with exotic wildlife. (see BBC report on this link).
In 2008, Rocket Steamers Mahsud, Ostrich and Tern were supplemented by the smaller motor vessel Sela to maintain a service of six departures a week (two for each vessel, with Tern and Sela substituting for each other). From January 2009, departures were increased to seven per week but with four terminating at Morelganj.

There are four "classic" vessels in service on this route, originally steamers but now dieselised

These vessels were built by Denny at Dumbarton. They followed : Hazara, Ghilzai, Galla, Galiana (all from Denny's in 1927) and Chinsura and Chunar (built by the India General Navigation Company at Calcutta, but with engines supplied by Denny).

These old ships remain on this flagship passenger service as the operators are constantly short of new vessels due to financial constraints. The ships are not fully reliable and lack of availablity is often compounded by ships being out of service due to damage sustained on the river, either at river banks or on sandbanks - the rivers are notoriously dangerous, especially during cyclone weather and is susceptible to flooding. Also, being a busy waterway, there are frequent tragedies due to collisions and capsising of overcrowded ferries. Whilst these vessels have survived the tribulations and are amongst the safest in operation, one recent example shows how serious these incidents can be :
Lepcha was out of service in early 2006 having been damaged in a collision with a private boat (MV Abigail) on January 9th, an accident which claimed 2 lives and left a further 20 people injured .At the time, the Rocket service was reduced to 4 departures in the week due to lack of vessels available to provide cover.

External Internet Links

Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Company Website (for booking tickets)
Timetable

Websites for companies offering holidays including trips on the so-called "Rocket" Paddle Steamers include :

Green Bengal Tours : http://greenbengaltours.com/mysticalsong.htm
Undiscovered Destinations : http://www.undiscovered-destinations.com/bangladesh/touroptions.asp
Discovery Tours and Logistic : http://www.discoverbangla.com/packages4.htm
Bangladesh Travel ; http://www.bangladesh-travel.com/bangladesh-fixed-package.php?var=rocket_steamer_trip.inc
Riverain Tours ; http://www.riveraintour.com/riverain_beauty.htm

More photos on photo-sharing websites

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5627413
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5753318

CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS DATABASE ?

The webmaster would be delighted to receive any updates of relevant information and photographs (of which you own copyright) which could help to keep this database as up-to-date as possible and fill in gaps in the historical record.

I know that many of you will have photographs of paddle steamers on the internet on photo-sharing websites such as Picasa and Flickr. No photos are used on this website unless they were taken by the webmaster or someone who has given express permission for their own photos to be used. However, some photos from Flickr etc may be used so long a the copyright tag (Creative Commons etc) allocated to the photo at the time of downloading allows.

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Please e-mail the Webmaster your information and photos or general authorisation to use photos from another website source. Thank you very much

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