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Irrawaddy
Flotilla
Company
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Irrawaddy
Flotilla
Company,
Glasgow,
Scotland,
Myanmar,
Burma,
British
India,
Yangon,
Rangoon,
British
colony, King
Mindon,
Ayeyarwady,
Mandalay
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Founded in
Glasgow, Scotland,
the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, Glasgow,
Scotland whose fleet plied the more than
8,000 kilometres of navigable waters of
Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady, Chindwin, Thanlwin,
Sittang and other rivers during British
colonial times, did a very good and
profitable business.
Since the rivers were not really used
for commercial transport before the
British annexed
Myanmar Burma into British India the Irrawaddy Flottila
Company also somehow functioned as a model for the future development of the
river traffic in Myanmar.
When the British launched their second campaign against Myanmar, the East
India Company supplied four cargo steamers and a few barges to be used in
the war.
After defeating the Myanmar's the British took control of lower
Myanmar and established an administration which used these ships and barges
for their own purposes. A team of Scots took over the small fleet and
established the “Irrawaddy Flotilla Company” in 1865.
Initially the
Irrawaddy Flottila
company operated from
Yangon to Thayetmyo, a
garrison town 350 miles away which marked
the northern outpost of the British colony.
Recognizing the value to business in lower
Myanmar, especially to the agricultural
sector,
King Mindon
granted permission in 1868 to extend;
During the reign of King Thibaw, in 1882,
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the
Irrawaddy Flotila company
was given the concession to expand operations to the Chindwin River. By 1885
all of Myanmar was under British control and the “Irrawaddy
 Flotilla
Company” extended their routes to Bhamo.
By the time World War II
began the company
managed a fleet of some 600 vessels.
The “Irrawaddy Flotilla Company” ceased
operations by 1948 and the fleet was taken
over by the Inland Water Transport
Department of the government (IWT). Many of
the passenger and cargo vessels
are now old and rundown, needing repair or replacement.
Of the 353 mechanically powered vessels, 292 have exceeded their specified
serviceable life. In the case of engine-less vessels, 184 of 266 exceeded
normal service and 52 of 69 pontoons, piers and jetties had also outlived
usual service periods by the end of March 1994.
Older vessels that should have been retired years ago, are gradually being
replaced by larger ones bought from China or built locally. In June, 1993 IWT contracted with Yunnan Machinery Import and Export Corporation (YMIEC)
to build 14 vessels in
China and 28 barges in Myanmar. Three triple-decker
and two push-tugs were received from YMIEC in January, 1995 and have been
put into service.
Older vessels mainly on the Ayeyarwady - Irrawaddy river that should have
been retired years ago, are gradually being replaced by larger ones bought
from China or
built locally. In June, 1993 IWT contracted with Yunnan
Machinery Import and Export Corporation (YMIEC) to build 14 vessels in China
and 28 barges in
Myanmar. Three triple-decker and two push-tugs were
received from YMIEC in January, 1995 and have been put into service.
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Ayeyarwady -
Irrawaddy River and Delta Myanmar Burma,
Irrawaddy flottila company. |
In line with the policy of building new vessels to upgrade and expand its
services the IWT has opened many new routes. In January, 1990, the
Yangon-Mandalay Express Service was initiated and increased to three runs a
month in July, 1992. A
Yangon-
Mandalay Market Boat Service on the Ayeyarwady
- Irrawaddy river was introduced in March, 1993. Joint ventures with the
private sector were formed to operate the Pathein-Yangon service and
Mandalay-Bhamo service on the Ayeyarwady - Irrawaddy river and in the delta.
By now 10 years later there is no regular service between this cities.
all at e-books
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Irrawaddy
Flotilla
Company
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